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FIRST R EPORT 







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« » Horticultural Cm 



OF CALIFORNIA. 



Table of Contents on Back Cover. 

A copy of this Eeport can be obtained by any citizen of California, by addressing Secretary 
Board State Horticultural Commissioners, 111 Leidesdorff Street, San Francisco. 




"A friend in need is a friend indeed.' 




SACRAMENTO: 

STATE OFFICE : : : J. D. YOUNG, SUPT. STATE PRINTING. 

1882. 



STATE HORTICULTURAL COMMISSION. 



FIRST REPORT 



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Office, - - - 111 Leidesdorff Street, 

San Francisco, California. 




SACRAMENTO:' 

STATE OFFICE :::.!. D. YOUNG, SUPT. STATE PRINTING. 

1882. 



Brtcuufu 

MAY 1? 1913 

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OFFICERS AND MEMBERS 

OF THE 

ARD OF STATE VITICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS. 



AEPAD HARASZTHY, President, 
Commissioner for the San Francisco District. 

CHAS. A. WETMORE, Vice-President, 
Commissioner for the State at Large. 

CHAS. KRUG, Treasurer, 
Commissioner for the Napa District. 

I. DeTurk Commissioner for the Sonoma District. 

R. B. Blowers Commissioner for the Sacramento District. 

George West Commissioner for the San Joaquin District. 

L. J. Rose Commissioner for the Los Angeles District. 

G. G. Blanchard Commissioner for the El Dorado District. 

J. DeBarth Shorb Commissioner for the State at Large. 

JOHN H. WHEELER, Secretary. 

CHAS. A. WETMORE, 
Chief Executive Viticultural and Health Officer. 

STANDING COMMITTEES. 

Executive Chas. A. Wetmore, George West, and I. DeTurk. 

Auditing R. B. Blowers. 

Finance L. J. Rose and J. DeBarth Shorb. 

Phylloxera, Vine Pests, and Diseases of the Vine : 
I. DeTurk, George West, Chas. Krug, R. B. Blowers, and Chas. A. Wetmore. 

On Conference with Board of Regents of State University : 
Arpad Haraszthy, Chas. A. Wetmore, and Charles Krug. 

On Instructions for the Office of the Chief Executive Viticultural Officer: 
Arpad Haraszthy, Charles Krug, and I. DeTurk. 

On Horticulture : 
George West, R. B. Blowers, and J. DeBarth Shorb. 

On Distillation, Counterfeits, and Adulterations : 
J. DeBarth Shore, Charles Krug, and George West. 

Office of the Board : 
No. Ill Leidesdorff Street, San Francisco. 



OFFICERS AND MEMBERS 

OF THE 

STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURAL COMMISSIONERS. 



CHARLES II. DWINELLE, President, 

Commissioner for the State at Large. ■ . 

W. W. Smith Commissioner for the Napa District. 

M. T. Brewer Commissioner for the Sacramento District. 

W. B. West Commissioner for the San Joaquin District. 

Felix Gillet Commissioner for the EI Dorado District. 

Albert S. White Commissioner for the Los Angeles District. 

S. F. Chapin Commissioner for the San Francisco District. 

A. Cadwell Commissioner for the Sonoma District. 

Matthew Cooke Commissioner for the State at Large. 

E. J. Wickson* Commissioner for the State at Large. 

Ellwood Cooper Commissioner for the State at Large. 

JOHN H. WHEELER. Secretary. 

MATTHEW COOKE, 
Chief Executive Horticultural and Health Officer. 



STANDING COMMITTEES 

ON THE OCCURRENCES AND RAVAGES OF AND REMEDIES AGAINST INSECT PESTS : 

On Citrus Trees Albert S. White. 

On Olive Trees Ellwood Cooper. 

On Deciduous and Ornamental Trees S. F. Chapin. 

On the Codlin Moth Matthew Cooke and Felix Gillet. 

On Red Spider, Mites, etc W. B. West. 

On Fruit Packages W. W. Smith ami W. B. West. 

On Transportation and Quarantine Matthew Cooke, E. J. Wickson, and C. H. Dwinelle. 

On Rules and Regulations Charles H. Dwinelle. 

On Conference with Shippers and. Commission Merchants M. T. Brewer. 

On Borers Injurious to Fruit and Fruit Trees Felix Gillet. 



Office of the Board: 
No. Ill Leidesdorpf Street. San Francisco. 



♦Vice Charles H. Shinn, resigned October, 1882. 



ACTS OF THE LEGISLATURE. 



CHAPTER LXII. 

An Act for the Promotion of the Viticultural Industries of the State. 

[Approved April 15, 1880.] 

The People of the State of California, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: 

Section 1. There shall be appointed by the Governor a Board of State Viticultural Commis- 
sioners, to consist of nine members, two to be appointed from the State at large, and one to be 
appointed from each of the seven viticultural districts, which shall be constituted as follows: 

First — The Sonoma District, which shall include the Counties of Sonoma, Marin, Lake, 
Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte, Trinity, and Siskiyou. 

Second — The Napa District, which shall include the Counties of Napa, Solano, and Contra 
Costa. 

Third — The San Francisco District, which shall include the City and County of San Fran- 
cisco, and the Counties of San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and 
Monterey. 

Fourth — The Los Angeles District, which shall include the Counties of Los Angeles, Ventura, 
Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Bernardino, and San Diego. 

Fifth — The Sacramento District, which shall include the Counties of Sacramento, Yolo, Sutter, 
Colusa, Butte, Tehama, and Shasta. 

Sixth — The San Joaquin District, which shall include the Counties of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, 
Merced, Fresno, Tulare, and Kern. 

Seventh — The El Dorado District, which shall include the Counties of El Dorado, Amador, 
Calaveras, Tuolumne, Mariposa, Placer, Nevada, Yuba, Sierra, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc, Alpine, 
Mono, and Inyo. 

Sec. 2. The Commissioners, excepting the two appointed from the State at large, shall be 
residents of the districts from which they are appointed, and shall be specially qualified by 
practical experience and study in connection with the industries dependent upon the culture of 
the grapevine in this State. They shall each hold office for the .term of.four years, excepting 
that, of" the nine first appointed, four, to be determined by lot, shall retire at the end of two 
years, when their successors shall be appointed by the Governor. 

Sec. 3. The Board shall elect from among their own number a President, a Vice-President, 
and a Treasurer, and they shall appoint a Secretary, who shall not be one of their number, and 
whose salary shall not exceed one hundred dollars per month. And the Board shall determine 
and fix the amount of bonds that shall be given by the Treasurer and Secretary for the faithful 
performance of their duties. 

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Board to meet semi-annually to consult and to adopt such 
measures as may best promote the progress of the viticultural industries of the State. It shall 
be their duty to select and appoint competent and qualified persons to deliver at least one 
lecture each year in each of the viticultural districts named in section one of this Act, for the 
purpose of illustrating practical viticultural topics, and imjmrting instruction in methods of 
culture, pruning, fertilizing, fermenting, distilling, and rectifying, treating diseases of the vine, 
raisin drying, etc., for the better instruction of the people interested therein, as the require- 
ments of each district may show to be necessary and important, and to disseminate all such 
useful knowledge relating to viticulture, by printed documents or correspondence, as may be 
within their power to do. The Board shall devote special attention to the study of the phyl- 
loxera and other diseases of the vine, and shall make such recommendations in their semi- 
annual reports as they may deem best for the protection of vineyards. 

Sec. 5. The Commissioners constituting the Board shall serve without compensation, and 
shall be allowed only their actual transportation expenses to and from their places of residence 
when attending the semi-annual meetings of the Board. 

Sec. 6. The office of the Board shall be in the City of San Francisco, and shall be kept open 
to the public, subject to the rules of the Board, every day, excepting legal holidays, and shall 
be in charge of the Secretary during the absence of the Board. 

Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to attend all regular meetings of the Board, and 
to preserve records of proceedings and correspondence; to collect books, pamphlets, periodicals, 
and other documents containing valuable information relating to viticulture, and to preserve the 
same: to collect statistics and other information, showing the actual condition and progress of 
viticulture in this State and elsewhere; to collect information concerning lands suitable for 



6 

viticulture, and to impart to the public, upon proper demands being made, information con- 
cerning the localities of such lands, prices, cost of cultivation, and means of transportation, 
provided, that he shall receive no fee for such services; to correspond with agricultural and 
viticultural societies, colleges, and schools of agriculture, and other persons and bodies, political 
or private, and disseminate information, printed or otherwise, as he may be directed by the 
Board of Commissioners, and to prepare, as required by the Board, semi-annual reports for pub- 
lication. 

Sec. 8. And for the further promotion of viticultural interests, it shall be the duty of the 
Board of Regents of the University of California to provide special instruction, to be given by 
the Agricultural Department of the University, in the arts and sciences pertaining to viticulture, 
the theory and practice of fomentation, distillation, and rectification, and the management of 
cellars, to be illustrated by practical experiments with appropriate apparatus; also, to direct the 
Professor of Agriculture, or his assistant, to make personal examinations and reports upon the 
different sections of the State adapted to viticulture; to examine and report upon the woods of 
the State procurable for cooperage, and the best methods of treating the same; and to make 
analyses of soils, wines, brandies, and grapes, at the proper request of citizens of the State; also, 
to prepare a comprehensive analysis of the various wines and spirits produced from grapes, 
showing their alcoholic strength and other properties, and especially any deleterious adultera- 
tions that may be discovered. The Regents shall also cause to be prepared, printed and dis- 
tributed to the public, quarterly reports of the Professor in charge of this work, relating to 
experiments undertaken, scientific discoveries, the progress and treatment of the phylloxera, 
and other diseases of the vine, and such other useful information as may be given for the better 
instruction of viticulturists. 

Sec. 9. The Board of Regents of the University shall be authorized to receive and accept 
donations of lands suitable for experimental vineyards and stations, and shall submit in their 
next annual report an economical plan for conducting such vineyards, and for the propagation 
and distribution of specimens of all known and valuable varieties of grapevines. 

Sec. 10. There is hereby appropriated, for the purposes mentioned in this Act, the sum of 
6even thousand dollars, to be apportioned as follows : For the necessary and contingent expenses 
of the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, four thousand dollars, and for the University 
of California, three thousand dollars; and the State Controller shall draw his warrants upon 
the State Treasurer in favor of the Treasurers of the said Board of State Viticultural Commis- 
sioners, and of the University of California, for the amounts of four thousand and three thousand 
dollars respectively, as hereby appropriated, upon proper demand being made for the same; 
•provided, that the said Board of State Viticultural Commissioners shall, in the month of Decem- 
ber, submit to the Governor annual statements, duly verified by the oaths of the President and 
Treasurer, and attested by the Secretary of said Board, showing in detail the manner in which 
moneys received from the State have been expended, and also the amount remaining unex- 
pended, together with an estimate of expenses for the ensuing year, beginning on the first day 
of Jul}' next thereafter. 

Sec. 11. This Act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. 



CHAPTER LI. 

An Act to define and enlarge the duties and poioers of the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, 
and to authorize the appointment of certain officers, and to protect the interests of horticulture and 
viticulture. 

[Approved March 4, 1881.] 

The People of the State of California, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as folloios : 

Section 1. The Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, in addition to the duties and 
powers provided for by the Act entitled "An Act for the promotion of viticultural industries of 
the State," approved April 15, 1880, shall, in respect to diseases of grapevines and vine pests, 
constitute a Board of Health. It shall, in addition to laboratory work, cause practical experi- 
ments to be made to determine or demonstrate the utility of known and new remedies against 
such diseases and pests. 

Sec. 2. The Board shall elect of their own number, or appoint from without their number, 
a competent person to serve as Chief Executive Viticultural Officer, who shall perform also the 
duties of Viticultural Health Officer, under direction of said Board, and subject to removal from 
such office at any time by the Board. 

Sec. 3. The Viticultural Health Officer shall have power, subject to the approval of the Board, 
to prevent the spread of vine diseases and vine pests, by declaring and enforcing rules and regu- 
lations in the nature of quarantine, to govern the manner of, restrain, or prohibit the importation 
into the State, and the distribution and disposal within the State, of all vines, vine cuttings, 
debris of vineyards, empty fruit boxes, or other material on or by which the contagion of vine 
diseases and germs of vine pests may be introduced into the State, or transported from place to 
place within the State; to declare and enforce regulations approved by the Board for the disin- 
fection of vines, vine cuttings, vineyard debris, empty fruit boxes, and other suspected material 
dangerous to vineyards, while in transit, or about to be distributed, or transported into, or 



within the State ; to classify the vineyards and viticultural regions of the State, according to the 
■decree of health, or vine disease prevailing therein, and to change the same as circumstances 
may require to be done, subjecting each class to such varying rules and relations, respecting the 
introduction or transportation of vines, vine cuttings, and other material liable to spread con- 
tagion of disease among vines, as may, in the opinion of the Board, become necessary and 
expedient for the preservation of vineyards. Such rules and regulations shall be circulated in 
printed form by the Board among the vine growers and fruit dealers of the State, shall be pub- 
lished at least thirty days in two daily newspapers of general circulation in the State, not of the 
same city or county, and shall be posted in a conspicuous place at the county seat of each county 
affected by their provisions. 

Sec. 4. The Viticultural Health Officer may appoint local resident Inspectors in any and 
all of the viticultural regions of the State, whose duties shall be to report to him concerning 
the health of grapevines, the progress of vine diseases and pests, and all violations of the rules 
and regulations of the Board; to certify to the proper disinfection of vines, vine cuttings, 
empty fruit boxes, and other transportable articles required by the Board to be disinfected 
before transportation, or while in transit, or after delivery at any point of destination, the 
methods of disinfection to be determined and approved by the Health Officer and the Board ; 
to seize upon and destroy all vines, vine cuttings, debris of vineyards, empty fruit boxes, and 
other material liable to spread contagion, which may be found in transit, or delivered after 
transportation, not certified to as required by the Board; provided, that the same may be exempt 
from such destruction if the cost of disinfection by such Inspector shall be provided for by the 
owner or agent in charge thereof, as may be prescribed for such cases of negligence, carelessness, 
or violation of quarantine rules, and to keep a record of all proceedings as such Inspectors ; pro- 
vided, that there shall be no compensation for such services of inspection, excepting a fee, not 
to exceed one dollar for each certificate of disinfection, in case of compliance with quarantine 
regulations, and not to exceed five dollars for each certificate of disinfection after seizure for 
non-compliance: provided, however, such inspection may be employed at the option of the 
owners of property requiring disinfection to disinfect the same. All vines, or other articles 
absolutely prohibited of importation or transportation, may be promptly destroyed by any 
Inspector discovering the same transported or in transit, in violation of regulations, and the cost 
of such seizure, together with a fee of ten dollars, shall be paid to such Inspector out of any 
fine that may be collected from the party or parties guilty of such violation. "Willful violation 
of the quarantine regulations of the Board shall be considered a misdemeanor, and punishable 
by a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars. "Whenever required 
for the convenience of vine or fruit growers, or fruit dealers, a resident Inspector shall be 
appointed upon petition of any three neighboring vine or fruit growers, or dealers in grapes, to 
reside in their vicinity, if not already provided for; and there shall be not less than two 
Inspectors appointed for each county which is subjected to such quarantine regulations, and 
they shall each be subject to removal at the will of the Viticultural Health Officer, if incompe- 
tent, or they fail to perform their duties, or are unreasonably distasteful to vine growers and 
grape dealers. 

Sec. 5. It shall also be the duty of the Chief Executive Viticultural Officer to personally 
visit, examine, and report upon the several viticultural regions of the State: to prepare docu- 
ments for publication, as required by the Board, relating to any and all branches of viticultural 
industry, including treatises for the instruction of the public; to supervise the preparation of 
reports for publication, and especially report upon the practicability and means of eradicating 
-diseases from vineyards, and to superintend experiments with known and new remedies. 

Sec. 6. All printing heretofore ordered by the Board shall be paid for out of the appropria- 
tions heretofore made for its use. All printing required hereafter shall be done by the State 
Printer. 

Sec. 7. The salary of the Chief Executive Viticultural Officer shall be fixed by the Board, 
not to exceed one hundred and fifty dollars per month, for services while engaged as such officer, 
and his actual traveling expenses shall be allowed, not to exceed five hundred dollars per 
annum. 

Sec. 8. The Board of State Viticultural Commissioners shall also appoint an officer, who 
shall be especially qualified by practical experience in horticulture for the duties of his office, 
to perform similar duties respecting the protection of fruit and fruit trees as are provided for in 
this Act in reference to grapevines, with like powers; and the salary and traveling expenses of 
such officer shall be fixed by the said Board at the same amounts provided for in the case of the 
Chief Executive Viticultural Officer; and the said Board shall have power to establish such 
quarantine rules and regulations as are required for the protection of fruit and fruit trees from 
the spread of insect pests. 

Sec 9. There is hereby appropriated for the uses of the Board of State Viticultural Com- 
missioners, as set forth in this Act, and in the Act providing for its organization, out of any 
moneys in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of ten thousand dollars for the 
year commencing July 1, 1881, and ten thousand dollars for the year commencing July 1.1882; 
and the State Controller will draw his warrants upon the State Treasurer in favor of the 
Treasurer of the said Board for the said sums, or any part thereof, when they become available, 
upon proper demand being made for the same by said Board; provided, that no claim shall be 
paid out of such appropriation until the same shall have been presented to and approved by 
the State Board of Examiners. 

Sec. 10. This Act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage. 



CHAPTER LXXV. 
An Act to protect and promote the horticultural interests of the State. 

The People of the State of California, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : 

Section 1. Whenever a petition is presented to the Board of Supervisors of any county, 
and signed by five or more persons who are resident freeholders and possessors of an orchard, 
or both, stating that certain or all orchards, or nurseries, or trees of any variety, are infected 
with scale bug, codlin moth, or other insects that are destructive to trees, and praying that a 
commission be appointed by them, whose duty it shall be to supervise their destruction, as 
hereinafter provided, the Board of Supervisors shall, within twenty days thereafter, select three 
Commissioners for the county, to be known as a County Board of Horticultural Commissioners.. 
The Board of Supervisors may fill any vacancy that may occur in said Commission by death, 
resignation, or otherwise, and appoint one Commissioner each year, one month or thereabouts 
previous to the expiration of the term of office of any member of said Commission. The said 
Commissioners shall serve for a period of three years from - the date of their appointment, 
except the Commissioners first appointed, one of whom shall serve for one year, one of whom 
shall serve for two years, and one of whom shall serve, for three years, from the date of appoint- 
ment. The Commissioners first appointed shall themselves decide, by lot, or otherwise, who 
shall serve for one year, who two years, and who three years, and shall notify the Board of 
Supervisors of the result of their choice. 

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the County Board of Horticultural Commissioners in each 
county, whenever they shall be informed by complaint of any person residing in such county, 
that an orchard, or nursery, or trees, or any fruit packing house, storeroom, saleroom, or any 
other place in their jurisdiction, is infested with scale bug, codlin moth, red spider, or other 
noxious insects liable to spread contagion dangerous to the trees or fruit of complainant, or 
their eggs or larvae, injurious to fruit or fruit trees, they shall cause an inspection to be made of 
the said premises, and, if found infected, they shall notify the owner or owners, or the person or 
persons in charge or possession of the said trees, or places, as aforesaid, that the same are 
infected with said insects, or any of them, or their eggs or larvae, and shall require such person 
or persons to disinfect the same within a certain time to be specified. If, within such specified 
time, such disinfection has not been accomplished, the said person or persons shall be required 
to make application of such treatment for the purpose of destroying them as said Commissioners 
shall prescribe. Said notices may be served upon the person or persons owning or having 
charge or possession of such infested trees, or places, or articles, as aforesaid, by any Commis- 
sioner, or by any person deputed by the said Commissioners for that purpose, or they may be 
served in the same manner as a summons in a civil action. If the owner or owners, or the 
person or persons in charge or possession of any orchard, or nursery, or trees, or places, or 
articles, infested with said insects, or any of them, or their larvae or eggs, after having been 
notified as above to make application of treatment as directed, shall fail, neglect, or refuse so to 
do, he or they shall be deemed guilty of maintaining a public nuisance, and any such orchards, 
nurseries, trees, or places, or articles thus infested, shall be adjudged, and the same is hereby 
declared a public nuisance, and may be proceeded against as such. If found guilty, the Court 
shall direct the aforesaid County Board of Horticultural Commissioners to abate the nuisance. 
The expenses thus incurred shall be a lien upon the real property of the defendant. 

Sec. 3. Said County Board of Horticultural Commissioners shall have power to divide the 
county into districts, and to appoint a local Inspector for each of said districts. The duties of 
such local Inspectors shall be prescribed by said County Board. 

Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of said County Board of Commissioners to keep a record of their 
official doings, and to make a report to the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners on or 
before the first day of November of each year, who shall incorporate the same in their annual 
reports. 

Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners at large, appointed by the Board of State 
Viticultural Commissioners for such purpose, to recommend, consult, and act with the County 
Board of Commissioners, in their respective counties, as to the most efficacious treatment to be 
adopted for the extermination of the aforesaid insects, or larvae, or eggs thereof, and to attend 
to such other duties as may be necessary to accomplish or carry out the full intent and meaning 
of this Act. 

Sec. 6. Each County Commissioner and local Inspector may be paid five dollars for each day 
actually engaged in the performance of his duties under this Act, payable out of the county 
treasury of his county ; provided, that no more shall be paid for such services than shall be 
determined by resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the county for services actually and 
necessarily rendered. 

Sec. 7. Each of said Commissioners may select one or more persons, without pay, to assist 
him in the discharge of his duties, as he may deem necessary. 

Sec. 8. If any County Board of Commissioners, after having received complaint in writing, 
as provided for in section two of this Act, shall fail to perform the duties of their office, as 
required by this Act, they may be removed from office by the Board of Supervisors, and the 
vacancy thus formed shall be filled in the same manner as provided for in this Act. 

Sec. 9. Nothing in this Act shall be construed so as to affect vineyards or their products. 

Sec. 10. This Act shall take effect immediately. 



QUARANTINE RULES 

FOR THE 

Protection of the Vitieultural and Horticultural Industries of the State. 



VITICULTURAL QUARANTINE RULES AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 



Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, I 

Office of Chief Executive Viticultural Officer, 

No. Ill Leidesdorff Street, San Francisco. J 

To all whom it may concern : Be it known, that I, Charles A. Wetmore, Chief Executive 
Viticultural and Health Officer of the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, being duly 
authorized and instructed by said Board, do declare the following quarantine rules and regula- 
tions for the protection of the viticultural industries of this State; and due notice is hereby 
given, as provided by law, thirty days of publication in two daily newspapers of general circu- 
lation, not of the same city or county, in this State, and by posting notices in all counties 
affected by these rules. All parties concerned therein are required to conform thereto, subject 
to penalties provided for by law for any infraction or evasion of said rules and regulations: 

Rule 1. All cuttings of grapevines made in this State for sale, gift, or distribution outside of 
the vineyard or vineyards where the same were grown, and intended for new plantations, shall 
be made solely of the wood of the preceding year's growth; all older wood to be carefully and 
thoroughly removed before leaving the vineyard where made, and to be immediately destroyed 
by fire, if removed from such cuttings, wherever seized by any duly authorized Inspector for 
any invasion or infraction of this rule. The reason for this rule is, that the Winter egg of the 
phylloxera vastatrix is, according to the best authorities, found only on the old wood. 

Rule 2. All cuttings of grapevines, and rooted grapevines, imported from any region or 
country outside of this State, intended for sale, gift, or distribution for plantation in this State, 
shall be disinfected at the place of first consignment within this State before being further 
distributed or planted, the method of disinfection to be at the option of the owner- or agent in 
charge of the said cuttings or vines, according to any one of the following methods, viz.: 

First — Dissolve, sulpho-carbonate of potash in cold water ; proportions, ten pounds of sulpho- 
carbonate to one hundred gallons of water ; immerse cuttings and rooted vines fifteen minutes. 

Second — Dissolve Little's soluble phenyle by pouring upon it cold water in the proportion of 
fifty gallons of water to one gallon of the phenyle; immerse cuttings and rooted vines ten 
minutes. 

Third — Take two parts heavy oil of coal tar, two parts water, and one part carbonate of 
potash or carbonate of soda; put in a covered vessel and heat gently to boiling point for one 
hour; replace water lost by evaporation ; pour into suitable vessels and agitate violently; dilute 
with fifty parts of cold water; immerse cuttings and rooted vines ten minutes. 

Fourth — Dissolve carbolic acid crystals in water, in proportion to one pound of acid to twenty 
gallons of water; immerse cuttings and rooted vines ten minutes. 

Fifth — Dissolve sulphide of potash in the proportion of one pound to twenty gallons of water ; 
immerse cuttings and rooted vines twenty minutes. 

Sixth — Dilute one part of " liver of lime" in twenty parts of water; immerse cuttings aud 
rooted vines ten minutes. [N. B. — To make "' liver of lime," take one pound quicklime, one 
pound sulphur, one gallon water; mix; bod over quick fire to one half of volume; agitate 
before using ; dilute with twenty parts of water to one part of " liver of lime."] 

Any other efficacious method may be used, provided due notice is given to this office and the 
same be approved. 

inspectors. 

For the convenience and protection of all interested parties throughout the State, there will 
be appointed local resident Inspectors, as provided for by law, for each section or region where 
vine growers desire the same, and upon the application of any three such neighboring growers, 
or parties intending during the coming season to plant vines, such application to bo addressed 
to this office, and to be accompanied, whenever practicable, with nominations of suitable persons 
for the office of Inspector. The other Inspectors required by law will be appointed by this office. 

2' 



10 

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FURTHER PROTECTION OF VINEYARDS. 

All persons planting new vineyards within the State are advised and strongly urged to con- 
sider all roots and cuttings suspected, regardless of origin, and to thoroughly disinfect them, 
thereby accomplishing the destruction of all possible germs of insect pests upon them, as well 
as also those of fungoid disease, which are becoming dangerous in all parts of the country. 

CERTIFICATES. 

For the further convenience of vine growers, certificates shall be issued by any Inspector 
residing near the vineyard of the applicant, or the person in charge of cuttings or rooted vines, 
setting forth that the provisions of Rule Two have been complied with, and shall be entitled to 
charge in each case not exceeding fifty cents for such certificates made out in duplicate, one cer- 
tificate being sufficient to cover any quantity of cuttings or rooted vines in the possession of the 
applicant that may be satisfactorily shown to the said Inspector to have been disinfected. Cer- 
tificates of disinfection shall likewise be given any applicant whodesires the same, and who shall 
satisfactorily show to the Inspector that cuttings and rooted vines, other than such as are required 
to be disinfected by Rule Two, have been properly disinfected in accordance with the recom- 
mendations of this office. 

INFECTED WRAPPINGS, ETC. 

Rule 3. All packages and the packing materials coming into the State with imported cuttings 
and vines (referred to in Rule Two) shall be disinfected at the time of disinfecting the contents 
thereof, by immersing in or washing with any of the solutions named in Rule Two, provided 
that the strength of the same, in case of mere washing, shall be increased by the reduction 
of the water in the same to one fourth the relative proportions named. If not disinfected, such 
packages and packing materials shall be destroyed by fire. 

PENALTIES. 

All infractions or evasions of these rules will be punishable according to law. 

CHARLES A. WETMORE, 
Chief Executive Viticultural and Health Officer. 
San Francisco, November 16, 1881. 



HORTICULTURAL QUARANTINE RULES. 

To all whom it may concern : Be it known, that I, Matthew Cooke, Chief Executive Horti- 
cultural and Health Officer of the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, being duly 
authorized and instructed by said Board, do declare the following quarantine rules and regula- 
tions for the protection of the horticultural interests of the State, and due notice thereof i8 
hereby given as provided by law, to wit: thirty days of publication in two daily newspapers of 
general circulation in the State, and by posting notices in all counties to be affected by these 
rules. All parties concerned therein are required to conform thereto, subject to penalties pro- 
vided for by law, for any infraction or evasion of said rules and regulations: 

QUARANTINE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF FRUIT AND FRUIT TREES 

From insect pests, namely, insects injurious to fruit and fruit trees, authorized and approved by 
the State Board of Viticultural Commissioners of California. In pursuance of an Act entitled 
''An Act to define and enlarge the duties and powers of the Board of State Viticultural Com- 
missioners, and to authorize the appointment of certain officers, and to protect the interests of 
Horticulture and Viticulture," approved March 4, 1S81, the Chief Executive Horticultural and 
Health Officer may appoint local resident Inspectors in any and all of the fruit-growing regions 
of the State, whose duties shall be as provided in section four of an Act entitled "An Act to 
define and enlarge the duties and powers of the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, and 
to authorize the appointment of certain officers, and to protect the interests of Horticulture and 
Viticulture," provided, that there shall be no compensation for such services of inspection, 
excepting a fee, not to exceed one dollar for each certificate of disinfection, in case of compliance 
with quarantine regulations, and not to exceed five dollars for each certificate of disinfection 
after seizure for non-compliance; provided, however, such inspection may be employed at the 
option of the owners of property requiring disinfection, to disinfect the same. And, also, said 
local resident Inspectors will be entitled to such other fees as are provided for in cases of con- 
viction and seizures. 

1. All tree or plant cuttings, grafts or scions, plants or trees of any kind, infested by any 
insect or insects, or the germs thereof, namely, tbeir eggs, larvae, or pupae, that are known to be 
injurious to fruit or fruit trees, and liable to spread contagion; or any tree or plant cuttings, 
grafts, scions, plants, or trees of any kind, grown or planted in any county or district within 
the State of California, in which trees or plants, in orchards, nurseries, or places, are known to 
be infested by any insect or insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their eggs, larvae, or pupae, 



11 

known to be injurious to fruit or fruit trees, and liable to spread contagion, are hereby required 
to be disinfected before removal for distribution or transportation from any orchard, nursery, or 
place where said tree or plant, cuttings, grafts or scions, julants, or trees of any kind are grown, 
or offered for sale or gift, as hereinafter provided. 

2. All tree or plant cuttings, grafts or scions, plants, or trees of any kind, imported or brought 
into this State from any foreign country, or from any of the United States or Territories, are 
hereby required to be disinfected immediately after their arrival in this State, and before being 
offered for sale or removed for distribution or transportation, as hereinafter described ; provided, 
that if on examination of any such importations by a local resident Inspector or the Chief 
Executive Horticultural Officer, a bill of health is certified to by such examining officer, then 
disinfection will be unnecessary. 

3. Fruit of any kind, infested by any species of scale insect or scale insects, or the germs 
thereof, namely, their eggs, larvse, or pupse, known to be injurious to fruit and fruit trees, and 
liable to spread contagion, is hereby required to be disinfected, as hereinafter provided, before 
removal off the premises where grown, for the purpose of sale, gift, distribution, or transporta- 
tion. 

4. Fruit of any kind, infested by any insect or insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their 
eggs, larvae, or pupse, known to be injurious to fruit and fruit trees, and liable to spread conta- 
gion, imported or brought into this State from any foreign country, or from any of the United 
States or Territories, are hereby prohibited from being offered for sale, gift, distribution, or 
transportation. 

5. Fruit of any kind, infested by the insect known as codling moth, or its larvse or pupse, is 
hereby prohibited from being kept in bulk, or in packages or boxes of any kind, in any orchard, 
storeroom, salesroom, or place, or being dried for food, or any other purposes, or being removed 
for sale, gift, distribution, or transportation. 

6. Fruit boxes, packages, or baskets used for shipping fruit to any destination, are hereby 
required to be disinfected, as hereinafter provided, previous to their being returned to any 
orchard, storeroom, salesroom, or place to be used for storage, shipping, or any other purpose. 

7. Transportable material of any kind, infested by any insect or insects, or the germs thereof, 
namely, their eggs, larvse, or pupse, known to be injurious to fruit or fruit trees, and liable to 
spread contagion, is hereby prohibited from being offered for sale, gift, distribution, or trans- 
portation. 

8. Tree or plant cuttings, grafts, scions, plants, or trees of any kind, may be disinfected by 
dipping in a solution composed of not less than one pound (1 lb) of commercial concentrated lye 
to each and every two (2) gallons of water used as such disinfectant, or in any other manner 
satisfactory to the Chief Executive Horticultural and Health Officer. 

9. Empty fruit boxes, packages, or baskets, may be disinfected by dipping in boiling water, 
and allowed to remain in said boiling water not less than two minutes; said boiling water used 
as such disinfectant to contain, in solution, not less than one pouud (1 lb) of concentrated potash, 
or three fourths (J) of one pound (1 lb) of concentrated lye, to each and every twenty gallons 
of water, or in any other manner satisfactory to the Chief Executive Horticultural and Health 
Officer. 

10. Fruit on deciduous and citrus trees infested by any species of scale insect or scale insects, 
or the germs thereof, namely, their eggs, larvse, or pupse, may be disinfected before removal 
from the tree, or from the premises where grown, by washing or thoroughly spraying said fruit 
with a solution composed of one pound (1 lb) of whale oil soap and one fourth of one pound of 
flour of sulphur to each and every one and one quarter (]£) gallons of water used as such disin- 
fectant, or in any other manner satisfactory to the Chief Executive Horticultural and Health 
Officer. 

11. Owners of fruit of any kind grown in any orchard, nursery, or place in which trees or 
plants are known to be infested with an insect or insects, or the germs thereof, namely, their 
eggs, larvse, or pupse, known to be injurious to fruit or fruit trees, and liable to spread contagion, 
and all persons in possession thereof or offering for sale, gift, distribution, or transportation, are 
hereby required to procure a certificate of disinfection before removal for sale, gift, distribution, 
or transportation. 

12. Any tree or plant cuttings, grafts, scions, plants, or trees of any kind, empty fruit boxes, 
fruit packages, or fruit baskets, or transferable material of any kind, offered for sale, gift, distri- 
bution, or transportation, in violation of the quarantine rules and regulations for the protec- 
tion of fruit and fruit trees, approved by the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, may 
be seized by the Chief Executive Horticultural and Health Officer, or by any of the local resi- 
dent Inspectors appointed by him; said seizure to be the taking possession thereof, and holding 
for disinfection, or for an order of condemnation by a Court of competent jurisdiction. 

13. Any person violating the above quarantine rules and regulations shall be deemed guilty 
of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable by fine of not less than 
twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars. 

MATTHEW COOKE, 

Chief Executive Horticultural and Health Officer. 
Sackamknto, November 12, 1881. 



12 



RULES RECOMMENDED 



By Matthew Cooke, Chief Executive Horticultural Officer, 



For the Protection of Fruit and Fruit Trees from the Ravages of Insects. 



Rule I. It shall be required of every fruit grower, owner of au orchard or orchards, or 

lauds containing fruit trees, or persons in possession of lands on which there are any fruit tree 
or trees which are infested with codlin moth, its larvae or pupse (chrysalids), to destroy said 
codlin moth, its larvae, or pupa?, before the first day of March each year, by scraping oft" all 
rough bark on said trees, and cleaning all crevices in bark and crotches. The scrapings must 
be gathered carefully and destroyed by burning or otherwise. (A spread made of old grain 
sacks, or other cloth material, should be spread on the ground around the body of the tree 
before scraping.) After scraping, the tree should be washed with an alkaline wash made from 
a soft soap containing at least nine per cent, of potash. This soap, when made, mixed with 
twenty-five per cent, of its weight with flour of sulphur. One pound of this mixture to each 
gallon of water used for washing trees. Instead of this wash, the whale oil soap and sulphur 
mixture known as codlin moth wash, one pound to each gallon of water ; or, a mixture con- 
taining not less than one pound of commercial concentrated lye to three gallons of water.* 

Rule 2. All vegetable and other growth must he cleaned off the ground around trees 
infested with codlin moth, its larvse or pupa?, before the fifteenth"!" day of May of each year, 
and the soil made as smooth as possible, provided that all premises under water at that time 
may be excepted as to date. 

Rule 3. All boxes or packages stored in orchards or adjoining storerooms, sheds, or prem- 
ises, from one season to another, especially those used for the shipment of apples, pears, and 
quinces, from orchards known to be infested with codlin moth, etc., or boxes and packages 
known to have been in contact with such, must be disinfected by dipping in boiling water for 
at least two minutes, such water to contain in solution not less than one pound of commercial 
potash or five eighths of a pound of commercial concentrated lye to each twenty -five gallons of 
water used for such disinfection. 

Rule 4. All salerooms, storerooms, and packing-houses where fruit or fruit boxes, or pack- 
ages used in shipping pears, apples, or quinces, or any other "kind of fruit infested with codlin 
moth, its larvae or pupse, or scale bugs (insects), or any noxious insects known to be injurious to 
fruit or fruit trees, have been used or stored for any purpose, must be thoroughly disinfected as 
prescribed by the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer, or local Inspector, or County Horticul- 
tural Commissioner of district in which the premises are located. 

Rule 5. All fruit infested with codlin moth, scale bugs (insects), or any noxious insects 
known to be injurious to fruit and fruit trees, must be picked off the trees and destroyed by 
cooking or feeding to hogs, or in any other manner satisfactory to the County Horticultural 
Commissioner or local Inspecter of the district where such tree or trees bearing such fruit are 
located. 

Rule (j. Before the fifteenthf day of May in each year, one or more bands of cloth or paper 
must be placed around each apple, pear, or quince tree contained or growing in any orchard 
where such trees or their fruit are known to be infested with codlin moth, its larvse or pupse. 
(Burlap, cut or torn in slips about eight inches wide, preferred.) The band or bands to be 
fastened around the body of the tree by cord or wire, or in any manner satisfactory to the 
Horticultural Commissioner or local Inspector of the district where such tree or trees are 
located. 

Rule 7. The bands must be examined every seventh day, and the larvae or pupse found 
therein destroyed. 

Rule 8. All fruit trees, plants, or scions (excepting grapevines and cuttings), infested by 
scale bugs (insects), must be thoroughly disinfected by dipping or otherwise washing in an 
alkaline mixture, containing not less than one pound of commercial concentrated lye to every 
two gallons of water, or by such wash as may be satisfactory to the Horticultural Commissioner 
or local Inspector of the district where such trees are located or in store. 

Rule 9. Any fruit tree or trees, plants, or scions, in any orchard or in any place, infested by 

* Where the washes containing sulphur have been used, they have proved an excellent preventive against 
mildew. 

t In districts where fruit ripens later than at Sacramento, the dates in Rules Nos. 2 and 6 may be made 
fifteen days later, viz.: thirtieth day of May. 



13 

red spider (mite), must be thoroughly washed with an alkaline wash as prescribed in Rule 8, 
or by such wash as may be satisfactory to the Horticultural Commissioner or local Inspector of 
the district where such trees are located or in store. 

Rule 10. Empty boxes or packages returned from market, or any place whence shipped, 
with fruit infested with codlin moth, its larvae or pupae, or scale bugs (insects), or any noxious 
insects known to be injurious to fruit or fruit trees, or known to have been in contact with any 
boxes or packages containing fruit infested by said insects, must be disinfected by dipping in 
boiling water as prescribed in Rule 3. 

Rule 11. In cases where notice is served to disinfect empty hoxes or packages just returned 
from market or in transit, the time allowed from date of notice shall not be less than one day. 

Rule 12. In cases where notice is served to disinfect empty boxes or packages used the pre- 
vious year, the time allowed from date of notice shall not be less than three days. 

Rule 13. In cases where notice is served to destroy fruit on trees infested with codlin moth, 
its larva? or pupae, or any noxious insect or insects known to be injurious to fruit or fruit trees, 
the time allowed from date of notice shall not be less than six days. 

Rule 14. In cases where notice is served to place bands on trees as prescribed in Rule 6, the 
time allowed from date of notice shall not be less than ten days. 

Rule 15. Any tree orJtrees, plants, or shrubs (grapevines excepted), infested by any species 
of scale bug (insect), red spider (mite), or any noxious insect or insects liable to spread contagion 
to fruit or fruit trees, must be disinfected with an alkaline wash as prescribed in Rule 8, or such 
wash as may be satisfactory to the Chief Horticultural Officer, or local Inspector, or County 
Horticultural Commissioner of the district where such trees are located. 



14 



REPORTS OF C. H. DWINELLE, 

PRESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER AT LARGE. 



PROTECTIVE MEASURES NEEDED. 

[Remarks of C. H. Dwinelle, at the quarterly meeting of the. Board September 29, 1881.] 

If there was 'before any doubt as to the need of protection for our 
horticultural interests against the insect pests which are being im- 
ported and disseminated through our State, the experience of the 
last six months must have removed it. While these visits were 
comparatively few in number, and the fruit which they injured low 
pricecl, the damage done was not considered serious. Now matters 
are changed. The pests have increased enormously, and at the same 
time the market price of many kinds of fruit has risen very much. 
Foreign markets have been secured where our products are highly 
appreciated, and climatic disasters have fallen upon other producing 
regions, which have reduced the world's supply of choice fruit. 
Meanwhile rates of interest have fallen so much on this coast that 
capitalists are more inclined to loan money in the country, and not 
a few of them are themselves investing in orchards. From these 
various causes horticulture has received a great impetus. Methods 
of culture and desirable varieties are much better understood than 
formerly; so that it is comparatively easy to secure good crops 
of profitable fruit. The greatest dangers to the industry are now 
from insect enemies. It is known that most if not all of these can 
be mastered by vigilance and industry. The important question 
now is, who are to be one's neighbors? Will they breed pests for the 
orchards of the thrifty, or will they have intelligence enough to study 
the habits of noxious insects, and pluck to fight them? Many who 
formerly denied the need of a war on insects now advocate it, as they 
see that the prosperity of the whole neighborhood depends upon it. 
Education in economic entomology is the first step towards changing 
an obstructionist to an ally in this movement. The patient and 
zealous labors of our Executive Officer, Mr. Matthew Cooke, both in 
the field, and latterly at the State Fair, deserve the highest com- 
mendation. 

The elements of general entomology should be taught in all of our 
public schools, and also the life history of our most common injurious 
and beneficial insects. 

Return packages, boxes, and baskets still continue to be most 
efficient means of disseminating pests. The fruit growers about a 
common shipping point should combine to establish facilities for 
disinfecting packages on their return from market, by scalding, or 
other means. Prizes should be offered for the best and cheapest free 
packages to go with the fruit. A. fifty-pound apple package is partic- 
ularly needed. Fruit infested with insects should be driven from our 
markets ; and in this matter municipal regulations could be called 
in as efficient aid. 



15 

The tenant system threatens to be a serious obstacle to a high stand- 
ard in horticulture. This is particularly the case where orchards 
are let to foreigners having an imperfect knowledge of our language. 
Orchards should never be let without a stipulation that they are to 
be kept free from noxious insects, in accordance with existing laws 
and the interests of the owners. 



THE FRUIT INTERESTS. 

At the quarterly meeting of the State Board of Horticulture, held 
June 29, 1882, President Dwindle made the following report, as 
Committee on Rules and Regulations: 

It seems fitting at this time to look back a few months and see 
what has been accomplished in the matter of horticultural quaran- 
tine against the spread of pests injurious to fruit and fruit trees, and 
to consider the present state of affairs, and see what is needed in the 
future. I am happy to say that leading nurserymen have maintained 
their high standing by adopting willingly the rules commended in 
regard to disinfection of trees and other plants sold. 

San Jose will soon be noted for the healthy and clean condition of 
its nurseries, which some time ago had such an unenviable reputa- 
tion. No one can now plead ignorance of the law, nor of the exist- 
ence of insect pests. Any one selling infested nursery stock in 
ignorance is, to say the least, criminally careless. When he does it 
knowingly, he is a swindler of the worst description, who not only 
defrauds his customer of his money, but also sows the seeds of 
destruction in his orchard. Against such men should be brought to 
bear all of the resources of the law. Even if the Acts of March 
fourth and eleventh, 1881, be declared unconstitutional, or swept 
away, there are, fortunately, still statutes under which one can pun- 
ish those who take his money and in return give that which is worse 
than valueless. The traffic in infested fruit has also been checked to 
a notable degree, but there is still too much of it that is exposed for 
sale which is neither creditable to the grower nor profitable to the 
consumer. The Board of Health would do well to turn their atten- 
tion to this matter. Does any one cry out that I am hurting his 
business by these statements? I reply that it must be a bad busi- 
ness that depends for profits on the sale of trees infested with scale 
bugs, apples and pears riddled by worms, or plums and currants 
coated with bark-lice. Any honest man can clear his reputation by 
inviting an impartial examination of his commodities, and their 
mode of treatment, by competent and unprejudiced persons of known 
high character. 

IMPORTING PESTS. 

For several years I have been warning the public against the 
importation of new pests from abroad with nursery stock, seeds, or 
other transportable material. I am pleased to know that this warn- 
ing, coupled with that of others, has had some effect. Our Chief 
Horticultural Officer has several times been called upon by con- 
signees or their neighbors to inspect trees arriving from the East. 
This is well, but such inspection should be made universal. We 
know of at least one carload of peach trees that were imported from 



16 

a noted peach-growing region of the Atlantic coast — noted alike for 
its fine fruit and the insects which prey upon it — which seems to 
have escaped inspection. It is to be hoped that the importer and 
his customers may not have an experience similar to that of the 
Spanish, who are reported to have eluded the quarantine officers in 
importing vines from France so successfully as to introduce phyl- 
loxera in their before favored country. I do know that last Spring 
I received a letter from a gentleman residing in Wilmington, Dela- 
ware, asking how he could fight the curculio in his peach orchards. 
He stated that his loss in fruit last season, through the ravages of 
that insect, was $20,000, and that my answer would be of interest to 
the owners of 3,000,000 peach trees. The curculios infesting fruit 
might be imported by the dozen, and pass under the eye of any one 
not trained to look for them, without being perceived. They are 
small gray beetles, about the size of a grain of wheat, which, if 
alarmed, simulate death, and are easily mistaken for a bit of dry 
earth. There is one for the plum, apricot, peach, and nectarine, 
another for the apple, and so on. I cannot say whether they now 
exist in this State, but I can assert most emphatically that their 
general dissemination would be a calamity which, in its pecuniary 
effects, could be measured by nothing short of millions. I have 
raised in Western New York as fine crops of apricots and plums as 
ever grew, while my neighbors hardly knew these fruits, excepting 
in a worm-eaten state. The labor and expense involved in so doing- 
were, however, such as no California orchardist would voluntarily 
add to his present burdens. 

WORMY PEACHES AND APRICOTS. 

Some growers of stone fruits, whose knowledge of insect ravages 
lias been mainly limited to those of the codlin moth, have objected 
to quarantine on the ground that their fruit needed no protection. 
All such show their ignorance of their business, and of the myriad of 
pests which threaten it. They cannot have seen the various scale 
insects (coccidse) which not only render those fruits unfit for food, 
but also kill the trees themselves, root and branch. This Spring I 
found a small brown speckled larva attacking the young shoots of 
the apricot at Berkeley. It is about as long as, but more slender 
than, the larva of the codlin moth, and entering the young shoot 
near the tip, it hollows it out downward, causing it to wither and 
turn black. From one of these I bred a dark colored moth, but 
have not yet determined its species. I am told that the same pest 
has appeared in the interior, and has done considerable damage, 
particularly where it has attacked newly budded stocks. On the 
twenty-fourth of this month (June) I bought a peach in Oakland 
which contained a larva closely resembling that of the codlin moth. 
Subsequent investigations among the commission houses of San 
Francisco showed that the new enemy had made an attack in 
force. In some lots of peaches the majority contained these worms. 
Its presence is usually indicated by the brown castings which it 
throws out from a small hole, which may be next the stem or at 
any other part of the fruit. In its early stages it is white, with 
black head and six black feet. Later the body becomes of a smoky 
liue ; It will probably prove, to be a close relative to the codlin 
moth. If it has a second and third generation this season, what are 



17 

the canners to do for choice late peaches? The cherries and apricots 
have also been attacked in places by caterpillars, which ruin their 
market value. 

NEED OF CLEAN PACKAGES. 

All of these pests are brought to our city markets in greater or less 
quantities with fruit and its packages. What are we to think of the 
judgment of orchard owners who wish to have their packages 
returned from such a pest-house without disinfection? I predict 
that, in the not distant future, men now opposed to horticultural 
quarantine will look back with amazement at their present position. 
Let us hope that it may not then be too late to save their property 
from destruction. Professor J. Henry Comstock says, in the United 
States Agricultural Report for 1880, " The system of exchange of fruit 
boxes which is practiced in some markets, notably in San Francisco, 
is a very dangerous one * * * and, in any case, when boxes are 
sent to a market where fruit from infected orchards is received, they 
should be scalded on their return. This precaution will tend to 
check the spread of the codlin moth and other pests, as well as 
scale insects." Professor C. V. Riley gives similar advice as to apple 
barrels in Missouri. 

We are pleased to know that many of our California orchardists 
have given orders to have all of their packages scalded before 
leaving San Francisco. They are men noted for their success in 
horticulture, achieved by intelligent attention to the details of the 
business. Others have solved the problem by adopting the free box, 
to go with the fruit. This can now be had at a very low price. 
Where the canner allows half of the original cost of the package, 
the actual value of the empty package to the producer is reduced to 
one or two cents. 

In my conversation with orchardists I have found none opposed to 
the execution of the laws intended for their protection, excepting 
such as had not yet an adequate knowledge of the danger threaten- 
ing them. Others, who have felt the scourge, ask that all return of 
packages be forbidden, and that the importation of fruit and fruit 
trees from infested regions outside of our borders be absolutely pro- 
hibited, or subjected to the strictest quarantine. As to what step 
must be taken in this latter regard I leave to the suggestion of those 
who have their money invested in the industry threatened. It is not 
too much to say that the man who has any interest in fruit produc- 
tion or selling in this State, and yet places obstructions in the way of 
the execution of laws intended to foster that industry, is his own 
worse enemy, and a blind leader of the blind. 

3' 



18 



WOOLLY APHIS ON APPLE AND PEAR TREES. 

At the meeting of September 28, 1882, President C. H. Dwindle 
made a statement of observation and experiment upon the woolly 
aphis, to the following effect: 

Some months ago, at a 
meeting of the State Horti- 
cultural Society, I called 
attention to the woolly aphis 
as the most threatening 
enemy to apple culture on 
this coast. While the codlin 
moth thins out the fruit, this 
aphis stunts or destroys the 
whole tree. On the limbs it 
causes unsightly swellings 
and distortions, checks the 
growth of wood and fruit, 
encourages the growth of the 
leaf fungus (Fumago salicina), 
and makes the tree a foul and 
disgusting object. Where it 
attacks the roots, they, too, 




Woolly Aphis of the Apple Tree. 
Schizoneura lanigera. Bailsman. 
a, Infested root; b, reddish brown larva with woolly matter 
on its back ; c, winged insect, with the woolly matter removed 

from the body, which is dark brown; d, leg of the perfect i < oo and'a + 

insect; e, beak; f, antenna of winged insect; g, antenna of SHOW eXCreSCeilCeS, clDQ eveni- 
larva — all greatly magnified. 
.Synonymous names : 

Aphis lanigera. Hausman. 

Coccus mali. Bingley. 

Eriosoma mali. (Leach MSS.) Samouelle. 

Myzoxylus mali. Blot. 



Schizoneura lanigera. Hartig. 
Pemphigus pyri. Fi tch . 
Aphis (Schizoneura) lanigera. 



ually become decayed and 
useless. The similarity of the 
insect to the phylloxera of 
the vine suggested to me the 
search for a resistant stock on 
which to work apples, and 
thus render them proof 
against the pest. In answer to my inquiries, John Lewelling stated 
that he had found seedlings of the Golclen Russet and Rawle's Jennet 
to be free from the attacks of the woolly aphis, and that in selecting 
young stocks he found those with deep, straight roots to be better 
than such as had fibrous roots near the surface. He also commends 
placing lime and wood ashes about the crown of the tree as a remedy 
for the aphis. Afterwards John Rock, of San Jose, presented to the 
University two trees of a local seedling stock, which, as far as he had 
observed, was free from woolly aphis. They were planted in an 
infested orchard, and repeated attempts have been made to colonize 
them by placing twigs covered with the insects about them in the 
soil. Thus far none have been observed upon them. If they with- 
stand for another year, we shall think that a very valuable stock has 
been discovered. 

SPRAY FOR TOPS. 

In fighting this insect on the tops of trees, admirable results have 
been obtained in the University orchard by spraying in Summer 
and early Autumn with a hot decoction of tobacco. One pound of 
tobacco to one gallon of water is the strength when first made, but 
from one to three times as much water is added before use. The 
tobacco used is the refuse stems and sweepings from the San Fran- 
cisco factories. To secure efficiency the greater strength is preferred. 



". 19 

The liquid is strained, and applied by means of a Merig'ot force pump 
and bug spray. The wire gauze is removed from the nozzle, and the 
diaphragm having the largest opening is used, so as to secure a free 
passage for the fluid. The nozzle is held within a few inches of the 
infested limbs, so that the process is more a washing than a spraying 
one. The leaves are also drenched as far as practicable, both under 
and upper sides. The temperature of the liquid in the barrel from 
which it is pumped is maintained as nearly as practicable at 130° 
Fahrenheit. This is not very difficult to do by adding a pailful hot 
from the boiler occasionally.- This is the same remedy recom- 
mended by Ellwood Cooper, of this Board, after using it with success 
against the black scale of the olive (Lucanium olese.) Trees that 
were languishing under myriads of the aphis were vastly improved 
by the washing. The destruction of the aphis allowed the sap to 
nourish the apples, and they increased very rapidly in size. 

APPLICATIONS FOR THE ROOTS. 

We have not as yet had satisfactory results in treating the roots of 
the infested trees. Gas lime destroyed the insects, but injured the 
roots badly, where drainage was imperfect. It may prove to be safe 
on deep, well drained soils, in small quantities — say a shovelful on a 
circle of six feet in diameter. Experiments should be tried cau- 
tiously, and at first on trees of little value. The effect on the insects 
and trees cannot be judged of until there has been a good deal of 
rain or irrigation to carry the solvent parts of the gas lime down 
through the soil. Carbon bisulphide is on trial, and may prove to 
be the remedy sought when we know just how to apply it. 

DANGER AHEAD. 

The season's experience has shown a wonderful increase in the 
pest in its old haunts, and its appearance in new ones. An active 
campaign against it should be begun at once. The owners of some 
of the oldest and heretofore most productive apple orchards in the 
State tell me that, unless a remedy is found, there will be no profit in 
apple culture in the future. The Chilean Consul says that at one 
time this pest swept off the wild apple trees in Chili. This season 
the pest has been observed in Alameda County, on the pear as well 
as the apple. Further observations as to resistant stocks should be 
made by those who have opportunity. The winged form of the 
woolly aphis will appear within the next few weeks, and it is impor- 
tant that as many of them as possible should be destroyed before 
that time. Infested trees that are not worth fighting for should be 
destroyed at once; grub them out, with at least two feet of the roots, 
and burn them. An old stump, with a few suckers about it, would 
breed enough of it to keep up the stock of the neighborhood. The 
pest is well established in many of our nurseries, and the greatest 
care should be exercised to insure the disinfection of trees bought 
this winter. The roots as well as the tops should be dipped in weak 
lye — one pound of the commercial article to one gallon of water — or 
soaked in soapsuds or tobacco decoction, after cutting off and burn- 
ing all roots that have been injured by the aphis. 



20 



REPORT OF W. B. WEST. 





Red Spider or Mite 
(Greatly magnified.) 



THE RED SPIDER. 

Stockton, September 20, 1882. 

To the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners: 

Gentlemen: I beg leave to report the following account of my 
work with the red spider: 

Among the most serious insect pests with which the 
warm and dry portions of our State are affected, is the 
red spider, or mite. It is probably indi- 
genous, as it is found upon the oaks and 
willows, and even upon the grass, weeds, 
and shrubs, along our streams. This 
insect attacks the leaves of the almond, 
plum, walnut, chestnut, and gooseberry, 
and does great damage by checking their 
growth. Upon the apple and pear its 
work is not so destructive, and the apricot 
suffers but little. The damage to nur- 
sery trees is considerable. On very dry 
years, it attacks the fruit tree stocks, Branch covered with, 
rendering budding difficult, also check- eggs of Red s P ider - 
ing the growth of yearling trees. In my 
experiments upon nursery trees, I have used water syringed upon 
them, afterwards dusting with sulphur. I have also used the codlin 
moth wash made of whale oil soap and sulphur successfully. This 
is for the live insect. 

Experiments upon my orchard of 2,000 prune trees, three and four 
years old, commenced in June of 1881 — the trees badly infested with 
the green aphis and red spider. Used the codlin moth wash as strong 
as the leaves, then mature, would bear it — one pound to one gallon 
of water.. The experiment was only a partial success, as most of 
the spiders were on the under side of the leaf and some escaped ; 
although most of the insects were destroyed. The aphides were 
destroyed, so that I had no further trouble with them. A similar 
syringing was given later in the season, with about the same results. 
By the first of August, the leaves showed the effects of the work of 
the red spider, being quite yellow. 

The- next experiment was upon the egg. It commenced on the 
eighth of January, 1882. Used a solution of concentrated ley, one 
pound to the gallon of water. The experiment, like the previous 
ones, was not a perfect success. Some of the eggs were destroyed, but 
a majority of them escaped ; a portion of them protected by rough 
bark, and others fully exposed, were not killed. I find the eggs of 
the red spider to be very difficult to get rid of. There is trouble in 
getting a solution of ley to act upon them; they being round, and 
perhaps covered by some secretion which resists the ley. 



21 

Subsequent experiments with different washes, seems to prove that 
a strong solution of codlin moth wash, to which has been added 
tobacco is the most efficient. It is difficult to give the strength of the 
solution of tobacco used, as tobacco itself differs so much in strength. 
This must be determined by experiment.* 

On or about May 23, 1882, I found that some of the insects were 
hatched out and at work upon the leaves. About the middle of 
June I again applied the codlin moth wash and tobacco, which 
killed nearly all the insects and many of the eggs, but not all, the 
solution being much weaker than should be applied in the winter 
for the egg. 

The eggs seemed to be nearly all hatched out by this time, but still 
I found a supply of the spider, and the leaves showed their ravages, 
but not nearly as much as they did the year previous. 

I found a large number of eggs on the sacks with which the bodies 
of the trees were wrapped. These should be burned in the fall, also 
all weeds and trash in the orchard. 

Old, and badly infested trees, such as almonds, apple, and pear, 
should be scraped and the scrapings burned, as the eggs will hatch 
on the ground just as well as on the trees. 

The result of my experiments is, that although my orchard is not 
■entirely free from the insect, it shows a marked improvement, and I 
would say to those similarly situated, use a solution of whale oil 
soap and sulphur, to which has been added tobacco. Use this strong 
in winter, and weaker after the leaves are out. By persistent syring- 
ing you will find the, enemy to be nearly exterminated and your trees 
very much benefited. 

W. B. WEST, 
Commissioner for San Joaquin District. 

* One pound of average tobacco, well boiled in one gallon of water, makes a decoction which 
•can be diluted by an equal measure of water, and will prove fatal to aphides and young scale 
insects. Probably this strength will be about right for use in connection with the codlin moth 
wash of whale oil soap and sulphur. — C. H. Dwindle. 



22 



REPORTS OF FELIX GILLET. 

COMMISSIONER FOR THE EL DORADO DISTRICT. 



HORTICULTURAL INTERESTS. 

[Presented at the meeting held June 30, 1881.] 

To the President of the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners, San 
Francisco : 

Dear Sir: Being unable to absent myself from home for the pres- 
ent to attend the meeting of the Board of State Horticultural Com- 
missioners, to be held at San Francisco on the thirtieth of this 
month, I beg leave to lay before the Board my views on the impor- 
tant questions to be considered at that meeting. 

The situation in which the horticultural interests of this State are 
placed by the ravages of noxious insects is certainly alarming, and 
justly creating a general uneasiness among those engaged in the 
various branches of agriculture; for California, which, for years, was 
relatively free of such pests, has to-day to confront a world of destruc- 
tive insects, like scale bugs, aphis, borers, codliu moths, worms, flies, 
mites, phylloxera, etc., and which, as if giving each other the word, are 
falling upon this "promised land" of ours as a band of ravens on a 
dead animal, to devour and ruin it. But the alarm has been sounded 
in time, and to help the ever vigilant agriculturist in his fight against 
those insect pests, a Horticultural Commission, composed of men 
known to be foremost in the field of practical pomology, was formed 
under the auspices of the State, its duty being to advise and suggest, 
after a careful examination of the situation, what could be done to 
check if not stop the alarming march of that army of minute but 
redoubtable and relentless enemies. So rapid, however, has been 
the spreading of the obnoxious insects all over the country, and so 
great is the alarm caused by their devastations, that, without waiting 
for the results of the numerous experiments now in progress through- 
out the State, a great many people, and at their head the leading- 
papers of San Francisco, are clamoring for the appointment of a State 
Entomologist, as the best and quickest way of checking the invasion 
and repelling the insects' attacks. 

I do not doubt for a moment that a competent person, with a salary 
that would enable him to give the subject his whole time, would be 
highly beneficial to the agricultural and horticultural interests of the 
State. But to think that nothing short of an entomologist will make 
the insects go, and that the appointment by the State of such an 
officer would be the surest way of rescuing this land from the grip of 
that great pest, is, let me tell you, a mere delusion. To fight success- 
fully those insects, the first thing we have to do, I am well aware, is 
to acquaint ourselves with their habits. Now, to find out the habits 
of insects, some of them so minute that a microscope is required to 
detect them at all, is not a very easy work ; it requires a great deal 
of time, patience, and observation, and with, sometimes, no satisfac- 



23 

tory results to reward us for years of research and study. In this 
way would the entomologist be of great service and value to 
us,' but to leave it altogether into the scientist's hands would be 
unwise. See what has been going on in some parts of Europe for the 
last twenty-five years. What have they achieved there, with an 
army of the best scientists in the world, in fighting out these 
destructive pests that attacked their orchards and vineyards, and 
also in dealing against those maladies that devastated their cocoon- 
eries? Science, after proving a failure, left the field entirely to the 
practical men of the land — those who owned the orchards and vine- 
yards, and those who raised silkworms. A State Entomologist, I 
repeat it, would be a good help in making known the various kinds 
of insects that prey on the green things of the land, so that we might 
fight, with a chance of success, all those of whose habits something 
definite is known. Otherwise a full description by the entomologist 
of the noxious insects, though it might prove highly interesting, 
would only satisfy our curiosity concerning our enemies, and, in most 
cases, amount to nothing else. 

Take the twig-boring beetle, for instance, or Polycaon confertus, as 
our State Entomologist, if we had one, would say, and whose ravages 
are commencing to tell throughout the State. " Where they come 
from," says a correspondent of the Rural Press, " is a mystery." Still 
they keep on boring into twigs of olive, almond, chestnut, etc. What 
does the learned entomologist say about that little beetle? Professor 
Comstock, of the Department of Agriculture at Washington, to whom 
specimens of the beetle were sent, says : " So far as I know, its habits 
have never before been published. The only remedy is to cut the 
infested twigs, and burn them before the insect escapes." Well, this 
boring beetle is nothing else but a California production ; it is 
a parasite of the oak, upon which I have traced it myself right in 
our forests ; and I assure you, by what I know of this beetle, that 
the remedy suggested by Professor Comstock is totally impracticable. 
If our oak forests were replaced, instead of being made less and less 
every year, it may be that this Polycaon confertus would let alone the 
various trees of our orchards, and be content to feast upon the native 
trees. 

The simplest remedies are very often the best. At a time when 
there was no official entomologist, they had their own way of fight- 
ing the destructive insects. To get rid of the common cabbage lice, 
which in certain years were becoming too thick around, they had the 
little coccinalla, or ladj r bug, which, both as a perfect insect, or in 
larva state, accomplishes an incredible consumption of plant lice : 
to go after the innumerable beetles, snails, spiders, worms, etc., that 
infested their gardens, and that bred thicker than was desirable, 
they had the toad, one of the most useful animals to be had in gar- 
dens, and which in some countries constitutes an article of com- 
merce, being bought by gardeners to be let loose on their land : 
insectiverous birds were protected by law; animals, like the land 
turtle, the hedgehog, and others were, with the toad, made regular 
members of the garden household, while an immense amount of 
insect hunting was done by hand. But this is an age of progress; 
all that has been changed, and in lieu of those primitive modes of 
fighting garden pests we have entomologists, well versed in insects' 
anatomy, and infernal drugs, from bisulphide of carbon to cyanide 
of potassium. 



24 

I should think that in a State like ours, composed of intelligent 
farmers, of practical horticulturists, of men of learning, we could, by 
uniting those separate forces, get quicker and surer at the root of the 
evil; find remedies and devise means to. do away with the insect 
pests. The formation of the Viticultural Commission was a step in 
the right direction, and subsequently the formation of this Horticul- 
tural Commission was another step as good and wise as the former. 
Next, what we want is the formation in every county interested of a 
local Horticultural Commission, which Commissions would act as 
so many branches of the Central or State Commissions. This is 
what Mr. Cooke, Chief Horticultural Officer, has been urging since 
his appointment, and Mr. Cooke's idea is correct. 

The Board of Supervisors of this county will be petitioned at 
their next meeting, on the fifth of July, for the appointment of a 
County Horticultural Commission; and it is to be hoped that Mr. 
Cooke's suggestions will be also heeded in every other countj^ in the 
State. It is by such means, and by giving cohesion to our separate 
efforts, that we may be able at last to check successfully, and before 
the damage done to our orchards, vineyards, and fields, be irrepar- 
able, the invasion of the noxious insects. 

To recapitulate, I would, as a member of this Advisory Board of 
Horticulture, advise the appointment of a competent entomologist, 
to be provided and maintained by the State; the formation in every 
county in the State of local Horticultural Commissions; and the 
enlargement of powers of the central organizations. I would also 
recommend to have the entomologist under the direct control of 
the State Commissions, and with a salary large enough to enable 
him to go to any part of the State where his services may be 
required, and to there study the habits of the destructive insects, 
and with the local Horticultural Commissioners devise means for 
destroying or at least checking their devastations. 

As to the codlin moth, I will here state that its ravages in this 
part of the country are quite alarming. As my time has been so far 
all taken up by the various occupations on my place, I have had yet 
but few opportunities to study this redoubtable pest, and as I do not 
wish to speak upon a subject that I have not thoroughly investigated, 
I will postpone to some future time my report on both the codlin 
moth and fruit trees borers. 

Yours, very respectfully, 



Nevada City, June 25, 1881. 



FELIX GILLET. 



THE CODLIN MOTH. 

To the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners : 

Gentlemen : At the first meeting of the State Advisory Board of 
Horticulture, held on the fifth of April, 1881, a committee consisting 
of Messrs. Cooke and Gillet, was appointed to report on the occur- 
rence and ravages of, and on the remedies against the codlin moth. 
Having been unable to confer with the other member of said com- 
mittee in regard to a common report, I take the liberty of submitting 
the following one, independent of any report to be submitted by Mr. 



25 

Cooke. In the great fight of man against those minute enemies of 
fields and orchards, whose ravages on the plants and trees that 
furnish us with what constitute a larger part of the commodities of 
life, we have to contend against such forces as : 

First — The minuteness of the enemy. 

Second — Its facility as winged insects to evade our pursuit, and also 
to spread in an incredible short time over a large extent of land, thus 
foiling at every step our attempts at capturing them. 

Third — Its immense numbers and its appalling breeding propen- 
sities. 

No wonder that in this unequal contest of man against those 
minute animals, the former has to call to his help all his science, all 
his talent of observation, all his cunning and patience. Then he has 
to study the habits of the insects, look round for allies, and taking- 
example on nature herself, take from her the very means that she 
lays within his reach to fight the ravagers' hordes. But let us see 
how nature proceeds wherever trees and plants are left entirely to 
her care. There, for instance, springs up a luxuriant growth, so 
fresh, so green, so inviting as to call forth the ravagers' coming, and 
sure they will not be long in coming, for caterpillars and bugs of all 
kinds will soon be at work devouring everything before them; and 
under such favorable surroundings breeding in immense numbers, 
so much so that those species of the vegetable kingdom they are 
feasting upon are doomed and bound to be completely annihilated. 
But nature, always wide-awake, is watching closely over that destruc- 
tion, and as she does not mean to have a single species of plants 
destroyed altogether, she sends forth against the too numerous insects 
an army of parasites, birds, and insects, large and small, to prey on 
them, and thus prevent their too fast production, or in other words, 
keep them within bounds, and at the same time, save the plants 
from utter destruction. In this way does nature keep up the balance 
of power between the vegetable and animal divisions of her domain. 

Now, how is it with man's productions? Here is a field, there's an 
orchard — all the work of man. The insects, and their name is legion, 
are not slow to come round, and everything is so favorable for their 
over production, that in a very short time they have spread all over 
the land. What is man going to do? 

The presence of insects is hardly noticed at the start; but as their 
ravages increase, it creates uneasiness, though hardly anything is 
done towards driving out the invaders from field or orchard; every- 
thing is left to nature — a cold or wet winter, it is hoped, will get rid 
of the pest. But no; the ensuing year the insects are again at work, 
and in larger numbers yet. This time man is pretty well scared, 
and he implores nature to do something to save his crops and come 
to his aid. Well, nature is certainly a good mother that takes as good 
care of the smallest plant or insect as she does of the largest tree or 
animal; but it is not nature's mission to defend the productions of 
man and preserve his fields against the ravages of noxious insects. 
Nature has nothing to do with those trees and plants raised and cared 
for by the latter, so that nothing is left to man but to imitate nature, 
and, getting hold of those insects that prey upon other insects, hurl 
them against the marauders that infest his land. I have reference to 
the large family of ichneumonidaB, those minute insects, so small, and 

yet so capable of rendering to man the greatest services, for, small as 
4 t 



26 

they are, by their preying as they do upon the noxious insects of our 
fields, they in reality keep man from starving. This may be, in fact, 
regarded as the key to the whole situation. 

Foremost among those pests that cause us so much trouble, is the 
codlin moth, the old Pyralis pomona of the French, better known 
now under the name of Corpocapsa pomonana, or pomonella; a new 
comer on this coast. There was none a few years ago, and now it is 
found all over this State; it is a regular invasion. No matter how 
targe or small is the orchard, not a tree escapes its ravages. Distance 
is no obstacle to its spreading. It started from the valleys a few days 
ago, yesterday it reached the foothills, to-day it is right up in the 
mountains, to-morrow it will be everywhere. So far, the codlin 
moth has had its own way — almost a clear field before it. The beau- 
tiful climate of California has even been an incentive to its already 
great breeding propensities, and instead of two broods a year as in the 
Eastern States, it is breeding here continually from April to October. 
If its ravages are not checked pretty soon, the apple and pear crop of 
California is in great danger of being annihilated. What is to be 
done ? In view of the steady spreading and ravages of this and other 
insect pests, Commissions have been formed throughout the State, 
and under the supervision of the State, whose duties it is to study 
those pests, devise means toward checking their ravages, and see that 
the law in regard to their destruction be enforced. 

Rules have been adopted by all those Commissions, wherever- 
formed ; by those rules the orchardist is requested to make an inces- 
sant war on the larvae and pupae of this codlin moth or any other 
insects injurious to fruit or fruit trees; scrape off the loose bark of 
the trees under which the larva? find a ready place where to build 
their little nests; apply a sulpho-alkaline wash upon the body and 
main branches of the tree; tie bandages around the trees so as to 
entrap the larvse hunting for a resting place where to spin their 
cocoons; disinfect boxes used for packing fruit, and so forth. This 
is very good, and, if it were done to the letter by every owner of fruit 
trees, whatever be the number of trees he maj r own, it is reasonable 
to expect that it would do much toward lessening the numbers of 
the enemy and thus preventing still greater destruction in our 
orchards. But it is very hard to make every one comply with those 
rules, simple and easy to be applied as they are. There will always 
be certain people that will neglect what they are requested to do,. 
though those rules are for their and the general public's good. Some 
will say that they will have enough apples and pears left, anyway; 
others, that apples are not worth picking, and they don't care; and 
this and that. And what will the consequences be? That the work 
done by those of our people who " care " to destroy the larvse and 
pupae of the codlin moth, will have been almost done in vain. 

But even if those rules could be strictly enforced wherever there is 
an apple, pear, or quince tree, I doubt very much whether it could 
eradicate from the land that pest. Something else has to be done, 
something more easy of application ; it seems to me that our efforts 
ought to be directed also against the perfect insect, particularly at 
the opening of spring, when fruit trees are blooming out, and the 
codlin moth is escaping from its pupal tomb, where it has passed the 
whole winter, and before it has had time to deposit its eggs in the 
calyx of the blossom. I admit that there are many obstacles in the 
way; that we are groping in the dark, so small, so swift, so seldom 



27 

to be met with is the dreaded little moth. But I maintain that we 
shall never be masters of the field unless we make a general war 
against the three forms under which we find the codiin moth, viz.: 
the larva, pupa, and perfect insect. In fact there are many obscure 
points to clear up concerning the habits of that moth; and if we 
want to be successful in driving it out of our orchards, it is of the 
first importance to ascertain whether it has any parasites, and to 
what extent, and on what it does feed when a perfect insect, if feed- 
ing on anything at all. To fight, capture, or destroy the perfect 
insect or moth, three ways present themselves, viz.: First, poison; 
second, light traps; third, ichneumon flies. If the codiin moth 
feeds on something when in the perfect state, then poison may be 
resorted to; and as it is a nocturnal moth, light traps may be 
invented to capture it. (I intend myself to use some kind of 
traps next spring.) But the simplest and most efficient way of 
fighting the codiin moth, and all other like pests, and fighting 
them all round at the same time, without any rules to be enforced, 
ought to be to pitch against them ichneumon flies. When we con- 
sider what immense services those hymenopterous insects do render 
to agriculture, when in numbers large enough to do any good, it 
is surprising that those States that have spent already such large 
sums of money to fight noxious insects, and that have lost still more 
through their depreciations, have never tried to raise ichneumon 
flies by the million, and let them loose wherever there are any 
insect pests to destroy. Why, in fact, should not we raise predace- 
ous insects to fight noxious insects? If we want to imitate nature, 
and it is the best thing we could do, why not do like her and hurl 
the ichneumonidae against all those pests? 

In three hundred species of ichneumonidse, we ought to find the 
very kind that prey on the larva? and pupae of the codiin moth. In the 
perfect state the ichneumonidse, which are insects of very active habits, 
are found on flowers or leaves; but in the larval state they live upon 
and within the larvae of larger insects. The ichneumonid female 
may be seen running and flying with agility upon leaves and plants, 
moving all the time right and left her antennae or horns, searching 
between the leaves, in the smallest cracks of the bark, in crotches 
and crevices, where she expects to find something; and that 
something is a grub or a pupa into which to thrust one solitary egg. 
Every species has its own way of depositing its eggs in the body of 
the grub, destined to feed its little ones; and as soon as a grub is 
found, the little ichneumon fly will, without hesitating, and quick 
as lightning, thrust its sting, fine as the finest silk, into the flesh of 
^the unconscious grub, and there deposit one egg. Whether her 
ovipositor, which is saber-shaped, is short or long, stout or light, 
curved or straight, the ichneumon goes after her prey, or rather her 
little one's prey, right under the bark of trees, in the ground, any- 
where; she may not see it, but, guided by an admirable instinct, she 
will deposit that egg, through that ovipositor, on that part of the 
grub's body, where it has to be laid to permit the young larva 
to subsist and grow into the flesh of the grub, with the least 
hindrance; and by the time the grub it has been feeding upon will 
be ready to accomplish its metamorphosis, the parasite will gnaw 
into a vital organ, kill the grub, and itself issue, after awhile, from 
its dead body n perfect insect, to go to work again, without stopping, 
and accomplish the same series of marvelous metamorphoses. 



28 

When we see what a desolation and ruin is caused by insect pests 
nowadays in wheat, cotton, and other fields — in vineyards, orchards, 
and forests — I ask again, why shouldn't we take hold of such means 
as nature has placed within our reach in fighting the noxious insects, 
and oppose to those bands of ravagers, armies of ichneumonidse, 
chalcididce, and syrphidas? Why shouldn't we go to Avork and raise 
those insects, as we do already coccinellaB, toads, and other predaceous 
animals — as we do maggots for hens' feeding, and silkworms for the 
silk they spin ? There is no reason why we shouldn't, after finding 
out what species of ichneumonidse, chalcididse, and syrphidae we would 
have to oppose to the various species of noxious insects that are 
presently devastating our fields and orchards ; then we could at the 
proper time hurl armies of those domesticated or civilized insects 
against the invaders' wild cohorts, and no doubt that victory would 
be ours. I am well aware that such a result cannot be obtained 
without very long and tedious efforts ; that we would have first to call 
to our help the entomologist's services; educate our people on the 
importance of acquiring a certain knowledge of the natural history 
of insects; call for the aid of the State to establish "stations" where 
to raise the predaceous insects, and teach tne farmer and his sons 
how to do it themselves. Let me tell you that this question of insect 
warfare has never been yet properly handled. As well in the old 
world as in the new it is altogether in its infancy; and here we have 
to depend mainly on ourselves, *so little have we to profit by the expe- 
rience of all other countries on this vexed insect question, of such 
vital importance to the agriculturist and horticulturist of California. 

In conclusion, therefore, I would suggest to this Board of Horti- 
cultural Commissioners, to recommend to the Commission under 
whose auspices it is acting, the adoption of certain measures neces- 
sary to put in operation the suggestions made through this report, 
viz.: 

First — The appointment of an Entomologist to be provided and 
maintained by the State, and whose duties it would be to act with 
the Horticultural and Viticultural Commissions of the State in their 
war against insect pests. 

Second — The encouragement by all possible means of the study of 
entomology, as it would be almost indispensable for our farmers and 
horticulturists to acquire some knowledge in the natural history of 
insects, and be able to tell the difference between predaceous and 
noxious insects — the study of entomology being an easy and very 
attractive study. 

Third — The awarding of premiums by the State and horticultural 
commissions or societies for the best traps to capture perfect insects. 

Fourth, — The establishing by the State, and under the supervision 
of the State Horticultural and Viticultural Commissions and Ento- 
mologist, of " stations," where to raise and learn how to raise 
predaceous insects of the kinds that prey upon the noxious insects 
that are making such ravages in our orchards, vineyards, and fields. 

FELIX GILLET, 

Commissioner for the El Dorado District. 

Nevada City, September 12th, 1881. 



29 



ENEMIES OF THE MULBERRY TREES. 

To the President of the Board of Horticultural Commissioners : 

Sir: I would beg to call the attention of the Board of Horticul- 
tural Commissioners to a statement made at the last meeting of the 
State Horticultural Society, in regard to scale bugs having been dis- 
covered on mulberry trees. The reports of that society's meetings 
being given a widespread publicity, as it should be, throughout the 
State, what otherwise had passed almost unnoticed or been treated 
as a harmless statement, becomes, under the present circumstances, 
an injury, wantonly or thoughtlessly done, to a growing interest of 
the State. 

It is a well known fact, that no parasites whatever have ever been 
seen feeding on the leaves of the mulberry tree, with the exception 
of the Bombyx mori, or silkworm; and neither have any insects, so 
far, been found on the roots or bark of that tree. This immunity 
from parasites with the mulber^ tree is, indeed, very remarkable. 
There are numerous instances of this kind in Italy and France, 
when all the trees around the mulberry w r ere infested with insects, 
while the latter was entirely free from them. But Dr. Gibbons, of 
Alameda, showed a branch of a mulberry at the last meeting of the 
Horticultural Society, which was covered with scale bugs; though 
the learned doctor was unable to tell whether they were of the same 
kinds as the other kinds so plentiful in Santa Clara and Alameda 
Counties. We all know that in the beautiful but insect-struck valley 
of Santa Clara, scale insects have multiplied in such immense num- 
bers, that they are found almost on everything, on all kinds of fruit 
trees, on eucalyptus, locusts, poplars, rose bushes, live hedges, etc.; 
and so thick are they in some places, that it is no wonder the few 
mulberry trees scattered about have, like everything else, fallen a 
victim to that pest. 

But when the mulberry tree is publicly denounced as a "pestifer- 
ous" tree, because of some scale bugs being found on its wood in that 
scale-covered valley, I believe it is nothing but justice to that young 
industry, silk culture — that may or may not succeed in establishing 
itself in our midst — to investigate that matter; and, in my judgment, 
the Board of Horticultural Commissioners is the proper body to 
ascertain whether the mulberry tree in California is a "pestiferous" 
tree, unfit to be raised on account of being attacked by scale bugs. 

I would, therefore, offer the following resolution: 

Whereas, It has been publicly reported that the mulberry in California is a "pestiferous" 
tree, and unfit to be raised on account of being infested with scale insects; and, whereas, we 
consider such a report as doing great injustice to a growing industry in this State, silk culture; 
be it, therefore, 

Resolved, That the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer is hereby instructed to investigate 
the condition of mulberry trees throughout the State, as far as insect pests is concerned, and 
report at the next meeting of the Board in what counties are scales or any other insects to be 
found on mulberry trees, and to what class of scales or insects they belong. 

FELIX GILLET. 

(See the report of the Chief Executive Officer on this subject, page 
50.) 



30 



THE CODLIN MOTH. 




To the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners : 

Gentlemen : As a member of the above committee, now that the 
campaign against the codlin moth may be considered as over for the 
season, I deem it proper to lay before you, and for your consideration, 
this second report on the occurrence and ravages of, and the reme- 
dies against, the codlin moth. 

Thanks to the experience of last- 
year, our County Commission was 
better prepared this year to meet 
that dreaded little pest, watch its 
march and progress, check its rav- 
ages, and last, tell how well those 
remedies recommended for its de- 
struction did their work. We, there- 
fore, came to the conclusion that the 
best thing proposed yet for entrap- 
ping the worms as soon as they leave 
the fruit, was a band of barley sack, 
doubled up around the tree, and 
two inches above the ground, and 
an old burlap sack, or any old cloth, 
thrown right into the forks of the 
tree. Of course, it is understood 

Codlin Moth and Apple Worm. that the bodies of the trees have 

Work of the apple worm or codlin moth and the been Scraped cleail during the will- 
i insect in various stages;* a, section of an apple j-„„ a n rl nil lnr>«P VvnrV rpmnvprl Tt 
.uined bv the burrowings of the larva, and channel p el > ana ail lOOSe Dai Iv remOVCO. ±1 
l»y which* it leaves when full grown at the left; b, is Surprising llOW maUV WOriUS Will 
the point at which the egg, for the first brood, is i t ,i i J _. j.1 „ 1 „„ 

usually laid, and at which the young worm enters; lodge tliemSelveS Under the Sack Or 
e, the worm or larva full grown, with black or brown c l th tlirOWll illtO the forks of the 
Head, bodv white when young, cream colored at ma- -. -. , , , , 

lurity, and pink just before changing to chrysalis ; 7t, tree, and Under the band Ileal* the 

, ^^S^^\^iSST^^^ ^ound. So much so that I am con- 

which the larva changes in the cocoon, of an amber yillCed that ill any isolated Orchards, 

or chestnut-brown color; f, the moth which escapes ,-, U 1 f+l -C 4- V. A 

from the chrysalis, at rest; <?, the same with wings the WUOle 01 tile UrSt DrOOO may 

Bxpanded. ■ *«,,•*. thus be captured, and the most of 

Size of moth: Leneth, seven sixteenths of an inch; . r j 

Spread of wings, nearly three fourths of an inch, the Cl"Op 01 trUlt Saved. 

('ulor of moth: Body, richly bronzed light drab ; fore A/Tv Cnnh-a in nia froatioo rm 

wings, mottled gray and drab, with dark coppery bar 1VLX. VjUOKb, 111 Illb ULdLlbt; Vll 

across hind margin, or a golden eye spot near inner nOxioUS illSectS, reCOmmeilds tO eX- 

:ingle; hind wings, plain drab, a little darker than • j_i i i j.1 

i>ody. cocoon: white inside, but usually so covered amine the bands every seventh 

with minute pieces of surrounding bark, etc., as to be f ] ay Now I do 110t See the lieCCS- 
overlooked by a careless observer. . " . . , n 

sity of examining the bands so 
often, for we must take into con- 
sideration the trouble, and even expense, it puts the owner of fruit 
trees to. Let us simplify, as much as we can, our rules, if we want 
people to observe them more generally, and do what is recommended 
towards fighting that pest of our orchards. Every twelfth day will 
do, and this is obvious from the fact that the moth does not emerge 
us a perfect insect until the fifteenth day after the larvae has crept 
under the band to accomplish its metamorphosis, it taking the worm 
live days to assume the pupa or chrysalis state, and another ten days' 
lo issue a perfect insect from the chrysalis. This is the way I do: 
The day I examine the bands I put it down on my memorandum 



by: 

: After Riley. Cut loaned by civility of Pacific Rural Press. 



31 

book, so as to recollect the date, and the twelfth ensuing day I 
■examine again, and so on to the first or tenth of September, accord- 
ing to the character of the season ; but from that time I let the 
bands stay till after every apple is off the tree, when I examine the 
bands for a last time, removing all the larvse found therein. From 
the first of September no more moths will hatch out as perfect 
insects, and all the worms found under the bands from that time 
have already gone into winter quarters.* 

This year, and in this part of the country, the codlin moth made 
its first appearance about the fourth of May, and kept on hatching- 
out rather irregularly every day during the whole month; it is very 
likely that irregularity in hatching as perfect insects that induced 
some of our horticulturists to put forward the opinion that there 
were in California three broods, if not four, of the codlin moth 
during the whole season. Having watched very closely all the 
movements of the codlin moth around this place, I am positive 
that it did not go through more than two generations. The second 
brood of moths hatched out from the twenty-eighth of June on, and 
it is the worms from that brood that since the twenty-fifth of August 
have gone and are going into winter quarters. I figured that it took 
fifty-four days for each brood, or that many days for the moth to 
develop after the egg from which it originated had been deposited 
by the female moth on the fruit. I consider it of the first impor- 
tance to have bands on the trees at the time the worms of this second 
or last brood are leaving the fruit and in search of a place where to 
build their winter nest. The bands may stay on from that time for 
weeks or months without being examined ; any time during the 
winter will do to examine them for the last time and remove all the 
nests or worms found under the bands. 

Thus it is plainly shown how admirably this band system works 
for entrapping the worms ; the only trouble is, that where orchards 
.are close together the work of entrapping the worm is not, as it ought 
to be, attended to by every one, so as to render it more effectual yet. 
When examining the bands, I kill with a knife all the worms that I 
find under them, and put back against the body of the tree the very 
same side of the cloth with the dead bodies of the worms on. I have 
found out that it serves as a bait for a voracious minute little ant 
that gets under the bands, and, after doing away with the dead 
bodies of the worms, attacks the live ones before they have had time 
to finish their nests. Everything helps, and though the worms 
devoured by the ants would have probably been captured when 
examining again the bands, still I believe that it is well to cultivate 
in those little ants that taste for the larva of the codlin moth. 

Now, in regard to washing the trees with the alkaline wash recom- 
mended by your Commission, my opinion is that it ought to be 
dispensed with. The scraping of the trees and removing of all loose 
bark during the winter or before the first of April is sufficient to 

* These observations are interesting and valuable for the region in question, but in some 
portions of the State the insect has been repeatedly observed to change from larvse to chrysalis 
;<nd moth in eight days, in others nineteen days. Some orchardists also report the date at which 
it is safe to neglect the frequent examination of the bands as a month later than that given by 
Mr. Gillet. 

The best results attained this season by the band system have been where they were exam- 
ined every seventh day. One gentleman thus saved all but one or two per cent of his yellow 
Newtown pippins, and sold them at a handsome price, while his neighbors lost between fifty 
and one hundred per cent of theirs. — 0. H. Dwinelle. 



32 

remove all the worms that may have built their nests under the 
rough bark or in crevices; and the application of a wash, which in 
ninety-five cases out of a hundred does not get at a single worm, is 
only putting the orchardist to more trouble and useless expense. 
When people ask what has to be done towards fighting the codlin 
moth, and they are told to first scrape their trees, then wash them, 
and on the fifteenth of May put on bands, which have to be exam- 
ined every seventh day, they almost invariably say that it is too 
much work, that it is too complicated, and they finally let the thing 
go by default. So I say again, let us simplify our rules as much as 
we reasonably can, if we want to have them more generally observed 
by owners of fruit trees.* 

In my first report to your Commission, I dwelt at length on the 
importance of finding parasites of the codlin moth, as being the 
simplest and surest way of fighting that pest and putting a stop to its 
depreciations. In that view, I corresponded with some of the lead- 
ing entomologists of France, but they didn't know, and in every 
case they referred me to Prof. Riley, the eminent American entomo- 
logist who occupies the chair of entomology at the Department of 
Agriculture at Washington. It is to say that we have nothing to 
expect in that line from the old world, with their fine body of 
" savants ;" and we have to rely solely on our own resources and the 
intelligence and energy of our people. Entomology may be regarded 
so far as nothing else but a "negative" science, which is of very little 
help to us, for it is not so much the anatomy or Latin name of the 
noxious insect that we care for as its habits. To successfully fight 
all insect pests, the first thing we have to know is their habits and 
all about their parasites. "Practical" entomology is yet a myth, 
and it will not be before it has been complete^ developed that ento- 
mology may be called a "positive" science. 

Here is a very good illustration of the services rendered to us by 
some of these parasites or predaceous insects. The cabbage lice, you 
are all well aware, are very troublesome insects, and which on certain 
years spread out so fast and thick that it is almost impossible to grow 
any cabbage heads. This very Summer, these scourges of the king 
of the cruciferee, made suddenly their appearance in immense num- 
bers, all over the State. Of course I had my share of them, though 
I did not care, being prepared for them. I imme- 
diately hunted up the little coccinella or lady-bird, 
which is very common in all gardens; to that effect I 
took along with me a little steel pen box with a hole big 
enough to slip in the little beetle. Then, after hav- 
ing captured a certain number of the beetles, I carried 
them to my cabbage and rutabaga patch, and let them 
Lady-bird. loose among the lice. They literally cleaned them out, 
Dormant pupa and no matter how fast the latter multiplied. The lady- 
active beetle, bird's larvse also fed on the lice, and whenever I found 
any, I carried them to the cabbage patch. 

In 1872, when the cabbage lice were a great deal worse than this 
year, I paid boys fifty cents for a hundred of those lady-birds, through 

* The alkaline wash not only destroys such larvse as it touches, but also invigorates the tree, 
and destroys moss and lichens. The bark becomes smooth, and there is much less chance for 
the larvse to hide until they come to the traps which are set for them. Many who have tried 
the alkaline wash commend it highly, aside from its effects on the codlin moth.— C. H. D. 




33 

whom I got rid of all the lice that had spread all over the cabbages, 
after I had tried all kinds of washes, soap suds, ashes, lime, etc. It 
is a simple and rational remedy, and a cheap one, too. The reason 
why the lady-birds have to be carried from other parts of the garden 
to the very spot where cabbages and rutabagas have been planted, is 
that like all coleoptera, they fly with some difficulty, usually a very 
small distance at one time; and it might take them the whole Sum- 
mer before traveling from one end of the garden to the other. The 
shortest way, for the lice multiply very fast, is therefore to hunt up 
the lady-bird all over the place and carry it where its services are so 
much needed. 

In conclusion, I will say that in regard to the codlin moth, I will 
be more able another year to tell how successful will have been our 
present way of fighting that pest. In the meantime, I would respect- 
fully suggest to your Board to simplify your rules when the time 
will have come to adopt new ones, in the manner recommended in 
this report. * 

FELIX GILLET, 
Of Committee on the Codlin Moth. 

Nevada City, September 8, 1882. 



SULPHO-CARBONATE OF POTASSIUM, 

AS A REMEDY AGAINST THE APPLE ROOT LOUSE. 

To the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners : 

Gentlemen : If the codlin moth has to be dreaded for the dam- 
age it causes to the apple crop, the root louse may be feared as much 
for the injury it does to the tree itself. I do not believe that there is 
an orchard in the whole State that is not more or less infested with 
that scourge of the vegetable kingdom. In most cases, the trees very 
badly affected manage to live, but show real signs of decay, that tell 
on the fruit, which does not grow so large and fine ; and after linger- 
ing in that condition for some years, dragging along as stunted trees, 
they finally die, killed by that minute little pest. 

Having two apple trees on my place, bearing trees, with roots 
pretty well infested with root lice, I tried, last Spring, the following 
experiment : First I dug all around the trees, on a radius of four 
feet, a hole funnel shaped, carrying away the dirt and whatever of 
the roots came out with it, the latter so badly affected with lice that 
they had no shape at all. Then I filled the hole with a solution 
made of a strong decoction of tobacco stems and sulpho-carbonate of 
potassium, and filled up with new clean dirt. On the twenty-third 
of September I examined the roots of those trees, and found them as 
much infested with lice as they were before I applied the solution. 
The experiment was a failure. 

I had also a little apple stock, one year old, whose roots were cov- 
ered all up with lice when taken up from the seed-bed ; I washed the 

* See Rules Recommended, page 12. 

5' 



34 

roots well with cold water, and let the trees soak for twenty-four hours 
in a light solution of sulpho-carbonate of potassium, and set them out 
at once. I examined the trees lately, which in the meantime had 
grown nicely, and didn't find a single root-louse around them. 

I therefore concluded that sulpho-carbonate of potassium was pow- 
erless to destroy lice on the roots of large trees, for the reason, probably, 
that it couldn't reach them, but that it might be used with advantage on 
young stock. Want of time prevented me from performing, during 
the Summer, more experiments with sulpho-carbonate of potassium, 
and to better test its insecticide properties; so that I could not, for the 
present, either reject or recommend it as a good insecticide. 

FELIX GILLET. 
Nevada City, September 8, 1882. 



85 



REPORTS OF ELLWOOD COOPER, 

COMMISSIONER FOR THE STATE AT LARGE. 



DISEASES OF THE OLIVE. 

Article No. 1. 

To the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners : 

Gentlemen: I have the honor herewith to submit a partial report 
on the insect pests that have committed such terrible ravages on the 
olive; not only in California, but in almost every part of the world 
where the olive is grown. 

The history of the olive is full of interest, as it carries us back to 
the earliest history of man, and where we find him in his most prim- 
itive state or condition, regarding the tree with a value almost sacred ; 
an appreciation that recent generations have not respected, other- 
wise we would not be called upon to-day to make the struggle in 
fighting the diseases of which I propose to discuss in this communi- 
cation. My attention was called as early as 1874 to the condition of 
the trees in and around Santa Barbara, from the ravages of the 
Coccus olio, commonly known as the black scale,* and which was 
always followed by the black fungus. In 1875 I visited the mission 
orchards of San Diego, San Gabriel, San Buenaventura, and Santa 
Barbara, and in 1876, San Luis Obispo. At the latter place I 
learned from the mission fathers, through the late Hon. Judge 
Murray, that the disease had appeared about fourteen years before 
that date, fixing the date of its appearance in California at about 
1862. Prior to that time they had had uninterrupted success with 
their olive trees. These examinations, very carefully made, deter- 
mined in my mind one of two alternatives: either to keep the trees 
free from the scale bug, or root them out. I chose the former, and 
have been fighting it without any cessation ever since. I believe all 
my olive trees are clean, and are at this writing loaded with a beau- 
tiful fruit crop. 

An olive tree once attacked with the scale bug, unless cleaned, will 
be soon infested so that it cannot bear fruit. Such fruit as is borne 
during the period of rapid increase of the insect, will not make oil. 
There are trees enough in the southern part of the State, if properly 
cleaned and cared for, to produce many thousands of gallons of oil, 
while, with a few exceptional orchards, I do not believe one single 
gallon could be made. This is the condition everywhere where the 
insect is prevalent. The attack is fatal unless it is at once destroyed, 
and it is useless for any orchardist to fortify himself behind theories 
that something will turn up to counteract the ravages, or that the 
ants will destroy them, or that some enemy or parasite will appear to 
do the work which he cannot escape. The whole business will be 

* See Black Scale, Lecanium oleoc, in Dr. Chapin's report. 



36 

bankrupted anything short of total annihilation of the insect. In 
some districts on the northern coast of the Mediterranean the 
spread of this insect has become so alarming that the question 
of abandonment is contemplated. The ravages have baffled the 
efforts of their wisest men. To give some idea of the rapidity with 
which it will spread, I quote from a very interesting treatise, a 
pamphlet of ninety pages, written by Alfred Lejourdan, Agricultural 
Engineer; published in Marseilles in 1864; title Maladie Noire. It 
is in this work estimated that one female coccus will produce from 
two thousand to four thousand eggs. By one author that one coccus 
in five generations will produce jive billions ninety-jour millions ; by 
another that ten generations are produced in one year, and allowing 
only one hundred as the reproduction of each, we will have at the 
end of the year from one single female one billion billions. For- 
tunately for us there are too many things contingent that prevent 
the possibility of such increase — high Avinds, birds, and insects of 
various kinds destroy the greater number; still, in favorable years 
the rapidity with which they will spread will require our greatest 
energies and intelligence to counteract. In a very exhaustive 
work on the olive, compiled by A. Coutance, Professor of Natural 
Science in the School of Medicine, published in Paris in 1877, it is 
claimed that the silence of authors on this malady caused during 
a period of twenty years great ravages. Let us not commit the same 
blunder ; and, if we are to foster the culture of the olive in this 
country, the valuable portions of such works as above mentioned, 
and of other books on the subject, should be translated into English 
and made accessible to all the cultivators where the olive can be 
grown. 

The ravages of this insect are of quite recent date. Lejourdan 
states that it appeared for the first time at Nice, in 1743, and that 
Bernard wrote on the subject in 1783; that there were no other 
writers before that time; that all the Roman authors of the first half 
of the eighteenth century were silent upon the subject. It was in 
1783 that all the proprietors in some localities trimmed down their 
trees to mere trunks in order to clean them, and commence with new 
trees. It is certain that a malady, so characteristic with such a disa- 
greeable aspect, could not have escaped the observation of authors. 
Abbe Conture presented a memoir to the Academj^ of Marseilles, 
about the same time that Bernard wrote, in which he declared that 
the Coccus olio was observed for the first time in 1781. Captain 
Cousin states that in 1861 this malady made terrible havoc in Kab- 
ylie (a part of Algeria), where the olive formed almost the only 
resource of the people. It was the more alarming because they could 
find no successful remedy. 

In Cousin's report, he makes the statement that the greater part of 
the Kabyles preferred to leave the trees without anj' effort to remove 
the insects or the black fungus, and that an orchard attacked would 
not give fruit before ten years, thus intimating that the disease 
would die out of itself in about that time. I have found in no other 
writings any intimation or possibility of the let-alone theory accom- 
plishing the work. _ Regarding the coccus and the black fungus 
there are various opinions. Some contend that the black is caused 
by the humidity and the want of ventilation and sunlight in the 
tree. This theory is accompanied by the statement that the black 
fungus is seen without any appearance of the coccus, and that the 



37 

coccus is to be seen without any appearance of the black fungus; 
some that it is caused by the smoke from chimneys; others that it is 
caused by the northern winds, carrying the sea air through the trees; 
others still that it emanated from the ground. But the principal and 
accepted theory is that it is caused by the attack of the coccus; the 
piercing of the bark of the limbs and twigs by these little insects 
causing the emanation of sap or some substance from the tree or 
from the insect, or both, which falls on the upper side of the leaves, 
as also on the trunk and branches, and produces the fungus. 

In my examinations and observations I have never seen the black 
fungus unless preceded by the insect, and that where the tree was 
affected the black was always on a lower level than where the insect 
was working, proving conclusively that the black was only a conse- 
quence of the insect work. And sometimes where there are com- 
paratively few insects on a tree, it may be several months before 
there is any appearance of black. When the black fungus com- 
pletely covers a tree it is quite possible to destroy the insects, and 
the black will remain for a long time afterwards; in fact when the 
trunk and limbs or branches are completely coated, it is very diffi- 
cult to get it off; it becomes a paste and adheres as firmly as glue,, 
and cannot be removed without the application of strong soap or 
some other substance equally powerful. 

It is my opinion that with little care large districts could be kept 
free from this scale insect. I do not believe they would spread a 
distance of ten miles, unless carried on plants. Birds will spread 
them readily a distance of two miles. 

In closing this part of the subject I lay down the following facts : 

First — That severe frosts will kill the insects, but the number of 
degrees and limit as to time through which the cold should be 
extended, and yet not do serious injury to the tree, is beyond my 
knowledge, for the reason that I have had no opportunity to extend 
my investigations. 

Second — That trees planted close to the sea will resist the attack 
better than anywhere else. The cold sea winds, evidently counter- 
act the spread of the insect. 

Third — That high table lands or plateaus will be easier to keep 
free from trie-insects than bottom lands, where there is more moisture 
in the soil, and generally more humidity in the atmosphere. 

In my next article, which I hope to have ready for our next reg- 
ular meeting, I shall treat of the remedies for the prevention, as 
well as for the extermination of this insect pest. 

ELLWOOD COOPER. 

Santa Barbara, September 29, 1881. 



38 



DISEASES OF THE OLIVE-REMEDIES. 



Article No. 2. 

To the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners: 

Gentlemen: In regard to remedies for the diseases named in my 
first article, pruning is the most essential thing and the remedy of 
the greatest vital importance. If trees are properly pruned, so as 
to admit of free circulation of air and sunlight, more than half the 
battle is made; in fact, trees in such condition, where the ground is 
well tilled and kept free from rubbish, are not so liable to the attack, 
and if attacked, each scale insect can readily be seen and should be 
removed without delay. Orchardists who adopt this plan will have 
very little trouble even in badly infected districts. A casual exami- 
nation of several different parts of each orchard should be made 
as often as once a month — this can be done on horseback or in a light 
wagon — and in the event of the appearance of scale insects, then a 
careful examination in that part, and a remedy applied to extermi- 
nate them. The insects will be found to inhabit that portion of the 
tree where the foliage is most dense, where the sunlight is shut out 
and free circulation prevented. There is not so much in the remedy 
as in its application. While certain remedies may be effectual in 
the hands of some, in the hands of others they will not be sufficient. 
" Eternal vigilance is the price of success." Constant watching and 
constant fighting is the only sure plan to prevent the spread of insect 
pests in localities where trees are affected. 

There are doubtless very many remedies, that if properly applied 
would accomplish the work; and the expense would not be so great 
as to absorb the profits to be derived from the products of well kept 
orchards. On young olive trees, not badly affected, whale oil soap 
can be applied with a stiff brush very successfully, and at cheap 
cost; but on large trees this plan is impracticable. I find in French 
books, where the subject is treated at great length, numerous reme- 
dies advised, which I translate as follows: Scraping off, powdered 
sulphur, petroleum, boiling water, lime water, hyposulphite of lime, 
wash with alkaline, smoking with coal tar. Also, "proper drainage, 
the tillage, removing rubbish, the lopping off of every useless twig 
are necessary precautions; the application is difficult and the success 
uncertain where there are millions of insects. The pruning is of the 
greatest importance, and the orchardist who neglects this important 
part will find that the pests will resist all efforts at extermination." 

In my correspondence several years ago w r ith Professor J. E. 
Planchon, President of the Horticultural Society of Montpelier, 
France, the following was recommended: "Syringe the trees with a 
solution of sulphate of soda, and powder them immediately after 
with powdered lime — a caustic soda is then produced which destroys 
the insects." Bisulphide of carbon has been used with deadly effect 
on the most dangerous enemy to citrus fruit that was ever known. 



39 

The cost is moderate, and the application not difficult, so that it 
should attract the attention of fruit growers as an insect destroyer. 

The remedies that I have experimented with are whale oil soap, a 
decoction of tobacco, phenyle, and pyroligneous acid. 

First — Whale oil soap, as I have already stated, can be used effect- 
ually on small olive trees at very cheap cost. 

Second — A decoction of tobacco is simple, inexpensive, and, if prop- 
erly applied, an effectual remedy for every class of insect pests that I 
have come in contact with. Forty pounds of good, strong leaf 
tobacco, thoroughly boiled in water, will make about eighty gallons. 
This can be thrown upon the trees with a garden syringe,* but it is 
necessary that the decoction should be kept, while using it, at the 
uniform temperature of 130 degrees. Hotter than this will destroy 
the embryo fruit; less hot, less effectual. I would recommend four 
applications each year, until the orchards are entirely free from 
insects. Then, if the neighborhood was free, and proper precautions 
taken, with pruning alone, could be kept free for generations to come. 
Every orchardist must grow his own tobacco, which he can do in a 
small way, if he attends to it properly, at a cost of two cents per 
pound. One acre will produce 4,000 pounds. We have, therefore, 
allowing two gallons of the decoction to a tree for each application, 
the following cost: One pound of tobacco, two cents; two men can 
boil the tobacco and syringe 100 trees daily; $1 25 for each man, and 
board, would be $2 50, or two and a half cents per tree, which, with 
the cost of tobacco (two cents), equals per tree four and a half cents; 
four times each year, eighteen cents. On olive trees producing fifty 
gallons of berries (valued at four cents to the pound), the whole cost 
of thorough cleaning would be less than two and a half per cent of 
each yearly crop. On orange, lemon, and lime trees, about the same. 

Third — Phenyle. With this remedy my personal knowledge is 
limited, but from experiments made by others, I am- satisfied it has 
very valuable properties, and do not hesitate to recommend it. It 
costs $1 50 per gallon; can be diluted with fifty parts of water to one 
part of phenyle, making the cost of the dilution for a tree wash only 
three cents for each gallon. 

Fourth — Pyroligneous acid is probably more effectual than any 
other known remedy, but the present cost of seventy-five cents per 
gallon makes it too expensive for common use in syringing trees. It 
is my opinion that it can be manufactured for ten cents per gallon, 
perhaps less, then diluted one half with water, would make the 
admixture cost five cents per gallon. 

The labor in applying either in swabbing or syringing trees is 
much less than with tobacco, as it does not require to be heated. 
The most important properties that any remedy can possess, pro- 
vided that it has about the same insect destroying power, is that it 
should not be disagreeable to handle, no unsafety in keeping it in 
any place, and that it should not require to be heated to be effectual. 
If it be dangerous in itself, the orchardists will always be in dread ; if 
it require heating to a certain number of degrees, the many little 
necessary preparations will afford ample excuses for delays, or if it be 
exceedingly disagreeable to handle, the putting-off plan will always 
be resorted to, until dire necessity compels its use. This remedy is 
not disagreeable to handle, and can always be kept at hand and 

* See Fountain Pump, figured above. 



40 

ready for use. It, therefore, recommends itself for universal appli- 
cation. To sum up, it is my conviction, based upon the results of 
my experiments, that there is no excuse for not keeping olive trees 
free from scale insects. In fact, it is great economy to do so. It is a 
source from which to derive an income on the one hand, and total 
worthlessness on the other. Those who neglect this important duty, 
either from indifference or the want of knowledge, will expend their 
money only to see it melt away before them, and will have for their 
reward unsuccess, discouragement, and despair. 

ELLWOOD COOPER. 

Santa Barbara, December, 1881. 



41 



SESSIONS OF THE BOARD. 



MINUTES OP THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF STATE HORTICULTURAL 

COMMISSIONERS. 



Office of Board of State Horticultural Commissioners, 
111 Leidesdorff Street, San Francisco, April 5, 1881. 

This being the day appointed by the Board of State Viticultural 
Commissioners for the organization of an Advisory Board of Horti- 
culture, the meeting was held at 111 Leidesdorff Street, San Francisco. 

The appointment of this Board was made to better facilitate the 
carrying out of Section 8 of " An Act to define and enlarge the duties 
and powers of the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, etc.," 
approved March 4, 1881, which section reads as follows : 

Sec. 8. The Board of State Viticultural Commissioners shall also appoint an officer, who 
shall be especially qualified by practical experience in horticulture for the duties of his office, 
to perform similar duties respecting the protection of fruit and fruit trees as are provided for in 
this Act in reference to grapevines, with lik,e powers ; and the salary and traveling expenses 
of such officer shall be fixed by the said Board at the same amounts provided for in the case of 
the Chief Executive Viticultural Officer; and the said Board shall have power to establish such 
quarantine rules and regulations as are required for the protection of fruit and fruit trees from 
the spread of insect pests. 

Pursuant to this section, the Viticultural Board, at their last meet- 
ing, held on March twelfth, adopted the following resolution: 

Resolved, That before taking any definite action in relation to horticulture, there shall be 
organized, under the auspices of this Board, an Advisory Board of Horticulture, to consist of 
eleven members, to be selected and appointed as follows : Each District Commissioner shall 
nominate one member to represent the horticultural interests of his viticultural district, and 
each Commissioner for the State at large shall nominate one member for the State at large, and 
the Executive Committee of the State Horticultural Society shall be invited to nominate two 
members for the State at large. The members of said Advisory Board of Horticulture shall be 
selected among citizens of this State especially qualified, by practical experience and study, in 
horticultural pursuits. The nominations shall be made to the President of this Board, who 
shall immediately notify the persons selected, and request them to convene in this city, at the 
office of this Board, on the fifth of April next, for the purpose of permanent organization and 
consultation. Said Advisory Board shall be requested to cooperate with this Board, and to make 
such recommendations relating to the horticultural interests of the State, and the appointment 
of a horticultural officer, as they may think proper. Said Advisory Board shall have the privi- 
lege of using the general meeting room at the offices of this Board, when suitable accommoda- 
tions shall be provided for their meetings, and the Secretary of this Board shall keep a record 
of their proceedings, and issue all notices of their regular and special meetings, which shall be 
held at their offices at such times as shall not conflict with the work of this Board, in accord- 
ance with the will of said Advisory Board ; provided, however, that they shall not hold less than 
four regular quarterly meetings. In case of any vacancy in said Advisory Board, caused by the 
failure of the Executive Committee of the State Horticultural Society to nominate, within thirty 
days after being requested to do the same, such vacancy shall be filled by the vote of a majority 
of the members, nominated by members of this Board. 

6' 



42 

NOMINATIONS. 

The nominations made to the President of the Viticultural Com- 
missioners consist of the following named: 

A. Cadwell,* Commissioner for the Sonoma District. 

W. W. 8mith,f Commissioner for the Napa District. 

M. T. Brewer. Commissioner for the Sacramento District. 

W. B. West, Commissioner for the San Joaquin District. 

Felix Gillet, Commissioner for the El Dorado District. 

Albert S. White, Commissioner for the Los Angeles District. 

S. F. Chapin,| Commissioner for the San Francisco District. 

Charles H. Dwindle, Commissioner for the State at large. 

Matthew Cooke, Commissioner for the State at large. 

Charles H. Shinn, Commissioner for the State at large. 

Ellwood Cooper, Commissioner for the State at large. 

These all accepted the nomination, and were appointed by Presi- 
dent Haraszthy, of the Viticultural Commission. At this meeting 
there were present all of the above named and appointed Commis- 
sioners, except Mr. Felix Gillet, of El Dorado, Albert S. White, of 
Los Angeles, and A. Cadwell, of the Sonoma District, who were 
necessarily detained. 

The meeting was called to order by Mr. Haraszthy, of the Board of 
State Viticultural Commissioners, at eleven o'clock a. m., there being 
present Messrs. DeTurk, Shorb, Rose, and Wetmore, of the Viticul- 
tural Board. 

Mr. Haraszthy stated that the object of the meeting was for the 
organization of a Board to act independently of the Board of State 
Viticultural Commissioners, in the interest of horticulture ; and, 
reading the resolution offered by Mr. West, of the Viticultural Com- 
missioners, at their meeting held on March 12, 1881, in which the 
purposes of the Horticultural Commission are more fully defined, 
stated, on behalf of the Viticultural Commissioners, that they would 
indorse all legal measures adopted by the Board now about to be 
formed. 

Section five of "An Act to protect and promote the horticultural 
interests of the State," approved March 14, 1881, was read by the 
President, and other sections from the same Act referred to. 

The meeting was then left to organize and proceed with its business 
of electing officers, etc. Charles H. Dwindle, of Berkeley, was 
elected President, and John H. Wheeler, Secretary pro tern. 

The order of business adopted by the Viticultural Board was 
decided upon as the regular order of business for this Board. 

It was moved, seconded, and carried, that six constitute a quorum 
for meetings of the Board. 

The Board then adjourned to one o'clock p. m. of the same day. 



At 1 o'clock p. m. the Board assembled, and entered upon the 
election of a nominee to the Viticultural Board for Chief Executive 
Horticultural Officer. Communications were received commending 
for the above nomination the names of Messrs. L. D. Morse, Matthew 

* Vice Win. McPherson Hill, declined, 
t Vice John Lewellyn, declined. 
j Vice J. P. Pierce, declined. 



43 

Cooke (Commissioner), John Britton, Dr. S. F. Chapin (Commis- 
sioner), and J. L. Sanford. As a result, the following was the ballot: 

Mr. Cooke, 6; Dr. Chapin, 1; whereupon Dr. Chapin withdrew his 
name, and rendered the election unanimous in favor of Mr. Cooke. 

Mr. Cooper was appointed as a committee of one to present the 
name of Mr. Matthew Cooke, of Sacramento, to the Board of Viti- 
culture, as the choice of the Horticultural Board for Chief Executive 
Horticultural Officer, and to recommend that he be elected and 
appointed as such. 

The work of appointing committees was here entered upon, with 
the following results : 

Committee on the Occurrence and Ravages of and on the Remedies 
against Insect Pests on Citrus Trees — Albert S. White. 

On Olive Trees — Ellwood Cooper. 

On Scale Insects of Deciduous and Ornamented Trees — Dr. S. F. 
Chapin. 

On Codlin Moth— Messrs. M. Cooke and Felix Gillet. 

On Red Spider, Mites, etc.— Mr. W. B. West, 

On Fruit Packages — Messrs. W. W. Smith and Mr. W. B. West, 

On Transportation and Quarantine — Messrs. Charles Shinn and M. 
Cooke. 

On Rules and Regulations — President C. H. Dwindle. 

On Conference ivith Shippers and Commission Merchants — Mr. M. T, 
Brewer. 

On Borers Injurious to Fruit a7id Fruit Trees — Mr. Felix Gillet. 

It was decided that the regular quarterly meetings should be held 
on the last day of March, June, September, and December. All other 
meetings to be called by the President, and only at the request of six 
members of the Board. 
Adjournment followed. 

JOHN H. WHEELER, 

Secretary. 



Office of Board of State Horticultural Commissioners, 
111 Leidesdorff Street, San Francisco, June 30, 1881. 

The regular quarterly meeting of the Board of State Horticul- 
tural Commissioners was called to order at the rooms of the Board 
at 10:45 a. m. President C. IT. Dwindle in the chair. Present: W. 
W. Smith, M. T. Brewer, W. B. West, S. F. Chapin, Matthew Cooke, 
and C. H. Dwindle. The minutes of the preceding meeting were 
read and approved, after" correcting to make the regular time for 
quarterly meetings the Thursday preceding the last Friday of March, 
June, September, and December. On call for reports of stand- 
ing committees, Mr. Cooke reported his progress as follows: County 
Commissioners have been appointed in the following counties : 
Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, El Dorado, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, 
San Joaquin, Contra Costa, Amador, Santa Cruz, and San Bernar- 
dino. 

The Board of Supervisors — the officers upon whom devolves the 
appointment of County Commissioners of Horticulture — of the ful- 



44 

lowing counties, have promised the appointment of County Commis- 
sioners: Placer, Napa, Tuolumne, Los Angeles, Marin, Nevada, and 
Butte. 

A system of quarantine rules and regulations was presented by 
Mr. Cooke for adoption, which, after some discussion, was laid over 
for future consideration. 

At 12:15 p. m. a recess was declared by the President, allowing one 
hour for noon. 

AFTERNOON SESSION. 

At 1:15 P. m. Commissioner A. Cadwell, of the Sonoma District, 
was added to the list of Commissioners present. 

Communications from F. Gillet, Commissioner for the El Dorado 
District, and from Ellwood Cooper, of Santa Barbara, Commissioner 
for the State at large, were read. Mr. Gillet made reference to the 
extensive work to be performed by the Commission ; of the com- 
mendable action taken by Mr. Cooke; of the necessity of a State 
Entomologist, etc.; closing with a promise, at the next regular meet- 
ing in September, to render his report on codlin moths and insects 
injurious to fruit and fruit trees. Mr. Gillet also excused his 
absence. 

Mr. Cooper stated his inability to be present at the meeting, and 
promised his report on the insects infesting olive trees at the next 
regular meeting, viz., in September. 

The following resolution was offered by Mr. Dwindle for consider- 
ation by the Board, after which it was unanimously adopted : 

In view of the rapid spread of noxious insects injurious to fruit and fruit trees, the State 
Board of Horticulture most earnestly calls the attention of fruit growers to the following 
matters: 

" Too great care cannot be used in procuring tree cuttings or scions, whether from foreign coun- 
tries or local nurseries, to be sure that they are free from scale insects, borers, or other like pests. 
All empty fruit packages should be thoroughly disinfected on their return from the market to 
the farm, in order to destroy insects or their germs. To accomplish these desirable results, the 
rules for the protection of fruit and fruit trees from the ravages of insects, as prepared by Mr. 
M. Cooke, Chief Executive Horticultural Officer, are especially commended. Copies of these 
rules can be obtained by addressing Mr. Cooke, at Sacramento, or on application to members of 
the County Boards of Horticultural Commissioners. Active steps should be taken to secure 
the appointment of County Boards, where not already made, as, in general, in cooperation lies 
our only hopes of preserving our valuable horticultural interests from the many threatened 
dangers." 

PRACTICAL ENTOMOLOGY. 

Following this came a discussion on the feasibility of informing 
the public on practical entomology and the principal remedies 
against obnoxious insects, by means of a pamphlet or descriptive 
treatise. As a result, the following resolution was adopted : 

Resolved, That the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer be requested to prepare for publi- 
cation, in pamphlet form, a brief popular treatise on the more prominent insects injurious to 
fruit and fruit trees, giving a description of their appearance, life-history, and the best means 
of their destruction. 

It was decided to request, through Mr. Cooke, the State Board of 
Agriculture to make proper provision at the next State Fair for the 
prominent exhibition of the pests destructive of fruit and fruit trees, 
the same to be under the supervision of the Chief Horticultural 
Officer, Mr. Cooke. 

To further the quarantine work in the State, it was resolved that 



45 

the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer be authorized to appoint 
local resident Inspectors in any part of the State where needed. 

Again, work was begun for the obtaining of an entomologist on 
this coast — one to consult as well as instruct. Mr. Cooke thought the 
most feasible plan for securing immediate results was that which had 
been proposed by President Dwinelle, viz.: to educate a young man 
at the University of California for entomological work. President 
Dwinelle explained that the entomological correspondence addressed 
to him at the College of Agriculture had assumed such proportions 
that it was impossible for him to find time to attend to it properly. 
He had offered to hire some one of the students to give a portion of 
his time as entomological assistant, and to direct and supervise his 
work, on condition that the horticulturists would furnish the needed 
funds. His estimate was for about $600, to make the experiment for 
a yeai'j including needed apparatus, books, etc. Nearly one half of 
that sum was already subscribed, and he hoped that the rest would 
soon be pledged. A valuable foundation might then be laid for the 
needed collection of insects, with notes upon their history, and the 
best means of destroying 'them. 

JOHN H. WHEELER, 

Secretary. 



Office of Board of State Horticultural Commissioners, | 
111 Leidesdorff Street, San Francisco, September 29, 1881. j 

The regular quarterly meeting of the Board of State Horticultural 
Commissioners was held at the office of the Board on September 
29, 1881, President Chas. H. Dwinelle in the chair. Present — Felix 
Gillet, S. F. Chapin, Matthew Cooke, Thomas H. Shinn, Chas. H. 
Dwinelle, Ellwood Cooper, and John H. Wheeler, Secretary. 

The society passed at once, after the reading of the minutes, to 
the consideration of quarantine laws, it being the request of fruit 
growers from many counties that immediate action be taken and 
rules adopted, which would enable them in their several counties to 
protect their orchards and fruit interests by proper disinfection, 
especially with regard to the coming season, for planting and receiv- 
ing from nurseries. 

Quarantine rules for the protection of horticultural industries of 
the State, which had been laid over at the last meeting of the Board, 
were read, discussed, altered, and adopted by sections, and the whole 
was approved, to be presented to the Board of State Viticultural 
Commissioners at their next meeting. 

The above mentioned rules were unanimously agreed upon by the 
Commission to be presented for adoption to the Board of State Viti- 
cultural Commissioners. 

Messrs. Cooke and Chapin were appointed as a committee to pre- 
sent these rules to the Attorney-General, and to make such alter- 
ations in the remedies mentioned for disinfecting purposes as the 
said State officer, by his experience and knowledge, might deem 
advisable. 

To obtain concerted action in the carrying out of these rules and 
to insure the cooperation of fruit growers throughout the State, it 
was agreed, on the suggestion of Mr. Cooke, that a convention of 
horticulturists from all parts of the State be called by the Board. 



46 
The following resolution was adopted: 

Resolved, That the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer be authorized to call a general 
meeting of the horticulturists of California, to consider their interests in the matter of destroying 
insects injurious to fruit and fruit trees; the said meeting to be held at some convenient place 
in San Francisco, early in the month of December next. The above officer shall confer with 
the representatives of the leading transportation lines, with a view to securing reduced rates of 
fare to those horticulturists attending the above meeting. 

At this convention there will also be displayed apparatus for disin- 
fecting, washes, insecticides, and free packages for fruits. (By "free 
package" is meant one to go with the fruit when sold.) 

At the afternoon session, on call for reports of standing commitees, 
Mr. Cooper, of Santa Barbara, offered his report on the olive and 
insects injurious thereto, and Mr. Gillet presented a report on the 
codlin moth, with proposed remedies. Both of these reports were 
accepted, and ordered placed on file. 

Some remarks on the work of this Commission were made by Pres- 
ident Dwinelle, after which the following resolution, presented by 
Mr. Gillet, was unanimously adopted : 

Owing to the failure of certain counties in appointing Horticultural Commissioners, after 
having been petitioned as required by law, and such action being injurious to the horticultural 
interests of the State at large, for the reason that the transgression of this law will lead to great 
injury, owing to the fact that these counties being doubtless afflicted with insects injurious to 
fruit and fruit trees might cause much deception to the public and to those who are engaged in 
the planting or contemplating to plant orchards in counties thus afflicted, we therefore deem it 
highly essential that this Board, which is formed for the protection of our horticultural interests, 
shall prevent such action by these counties; and that it is the duty of its members to take such 
steps as will frustrate any deception sure to be practiced if not immediately stopped. And we 
do think it is but right and our duty to acquaint the public of the ravages done by insect pests 
in any portion of the State, regardless of the injury that may affect the interests of the county 
where noxious insects may exist. Be it, therefore, 

Resolved, That the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer be instructed to make out a list of 
every county in the State where the codlin moth has made its appearance, and also to make 
out a list of all counties where scales and other insects injurious to fruit and fruit trees have so 
far made their appearance, and to report to this Board the extent and nature of the damages 
done by such insects. 

Some interesting specimens of insects infecting chestnut trees in 
Nevada City, the same inhabiting the oak tree, were* exhibited by 
Mr. Gillet, and adjournment followed. 
Approved June 29, 1882. 

JOHN H. WHEELER, 

Secretary. 



Office of Matthew Cooke, 

Sacramento, December 8, 1881. 

The regular quarterly meeting of the Board of State Horticultural 
Commissioners was called to order at 9:15 a. m., President Dwinelle in 
the chair. 

Present— Commissioners Dwinelle, Brewer, West, Gillet, White, 
Chapin, Cooke, and the Secretary, J. H. Wheeler. 

Absent — Commissioners Smith, Cadwell, Cooper, and Shinn. 

The reading of the minutes of the previous meeting was dispensed 

with and reports of standing committees were taken up. 

^ Mr. Gillet, of Nevada, of Committee on Borers Injurious to Fruit and 

Fruit Trees, requested further time, stating that he had at present 

under consideration a certain borer which he has as yet been unable 



47 

to identify, which is a habitant of the chestnut trees and indigenous 
to the oak. 

Albert S. White, of Riverside, as representing Los Angeles District, 
requested of the Board to exercise their utmost power to absolutely 
prohibit the importation of infected trees into all of that part of his 
district which is at present free from noxious insects of any consid- 
erable importance. 

In consideration of this request the following resolution was moved 
by Dr. S. F. Chapin : 

Resolved. That the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners recommends to the Board of 
State Viticultural Commissioners the adoption of a quarantine resolution prohibiting, whenever 
it shall be necessary, the transportation from one place to another within this State, or from 
abroad into this State, of any trees, cuttings, fruit, or other transportable material infested with 
any insect or insects, or the germs thereof, viz. : their eggs, larva?, or pupae, when it shall in the 
judgment of the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer be required for the protection of non- 
infected localities or places. 

Dr. Chapin's resolution was seconded and unanimously adopted. 

Mr. Cooper's communication was read, being an expression of regret 
at not being able to be present. Mr. Cooper's report was read and 
adopted for publication. 

Mr. "West reports that although the plan of his report has been 
mapped out, it is not now prepared for the Commission. He was 
requested to write it out for publication. 

The Committee on Rules and Regulations reported that success has 
followed them thus far in their work of establishing and enforcing 
quarantine laws. 

Mr. Cooke reported what work had been done under the quaran- 
tine laws. 

On call of the Committee on Fruit Packages, etc., Mr. Brewer 
reported that although the commission merchants want free boxes, 
and many growers also ; still there are objections to it offered by some, 
which render the adoption of the free package, and the making of it 
general, a matter whose postponement would, until after another 
State Convention, in the opinion of the committee, be advantageous. 
Fruit shippers and commission merchants are in favor of any means 
to be adopted which will prevent the spread of insects, and recom- 
mended the adoption of the free box system. 

Recess of thirty minutes declared and a reassembling had at 1 

P. M. 

Mr. Cooke mentioned the advisability of publishing the reports of 
the Commissioners, and also of such synopsis as he shall choose of 
reports sent him from County Commissioners. 

Dr. Chapin's report on scale insects of deciduous and ornamental 
trees was submitted and adopted. 

Dr. Chapin offered the following: 

He-solved, That it is hereby requested of the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners that 
trie reports of the State Horticultural Commissioners, as submitted and approved by this Board, 
together with such synopses of the reports of County Commissioners as the Chief Executive 
Horticultural Officer shall choose in connection with his general report on the condition of the 
fruit growing interest of the State, be published as soon as possible in pamphlet form, for gen- 
eral circulation; the work to be supervised by the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer. 

The resolution was adopted. 

The following resolution was offered by Dr. Chapin : 



48 

Resolved, That the Committee on Transportation and Quarantine be requested to call upon 
the various transportation companies throughout the State, and ask their assistance in the 
enforcement of the quarantine rules and regulations established by the Chief Executive Horti- 
cultural and Health Officer for the preservation of our endangered fruit industries. 

Adopted unanimously. 

On motion, Professor C. H. Dwinelle was added to the committee. 

Adjourned. 

Approved June 29, 1882. 

JOHN H. WHEELER, 

Secretary. 



Office of Board of State Horticultural Commissioners, 
111 Leidesdorff Street, San Francisco, June 29, 1882. 

The regular quarterly meeting of the Board of State Horticultural 
Commissioners was called to order at 11:30 a. m. President Dwinelle 
in the chair. 

Present — Commissioners C. H. Dwinelle, W. W. Smith, W. B. 
West, S. F. Chapin, A. Cadwell, Matthew Cooke, and the Secretary, 
J. H. Wheeler. 

Absent — Commissioners M. T. Brewer, Felix Gillet, Albert S. 
White, Charles H. Shinn, and Ell wood Cooper. 

Excuses were presented and accepted from Messrs. Brewer and 
Cooper. 

In answer to a communication from Mr. Cooper, calling attention 
to the cottony cushion scale infesting certain orchards at Santa 
Barbara, the following resolution and recommendations were pre- 
sented and adopted by the Board : 

Resolved, That a special committee be appointed to consider means for the destruction of the 
Cottony Cushion Scale (Iceria purchasi), and the best means for preventing its spread; and that 
the said committee urge immediate and vigorous action on the part of the County Horticultural 
Commissioners in those districts. 

Appointed : Ell wood Cooper, Dr. S. F. Chapin, and Matthew Cooke. 

A communication was read from Felix Gillet, of Nevada City, 
calling attention to statements made relative to insects infesting the 
mulberry tree in California, in answer to which, the following reso- 
lution was adopted by the Board : 

Whereas, It has been publicly reported that the mulberry in California, is a pestiverous tree, 
and unfit to be raised on account of being infested with scale insects; and, whereas, we consider 
such a report as doing a great injustice to a growing industry in this State — silk culture; be it 
therefore 

Resolved, That the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer is hereby instructed to investigate 
the condition of the mulberry trees throughout the State, so far as insect pests are concerned, 
and report, at the next meeting of the Board, in what counties the scale or other insects are to 
be found on mulberry trees, and to what class of scale or insect they belong. 

Mr. West, Committee on Red Spider, Mites, etc, read a report on 
experiments made on the same, which experiments extended through 
many years. With the most efficient means, he had never succeeded 
in destroying all vestige of the insects, and he was not yet able to 
report on a completely successful remedy. Whale oil soap and sul- 
phur, together with tobacco decoction, had proved most successful 
and best. 

Report placed on file. 



49 

After some discussion on the curculio of the plum, Dr. S. F. Chapin 
introduced a resolution for prohibiting the importation into this 
State of any trees, in view of thus keeping out this dreaded insect. 
The same was seconded and carried ; but after further deliberation 
it was rescinded, and ordered struck off the minutes. In its place 
was substituted the following, offered by Dr. S. F. Chapin, seconded 
and carried : 

Resolved, That, the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners recommends to the Board of 
State Viticultural Commissioners the adoption of instructions to the Chief Executive Horticul- 
tural and Health Officer, as follows: 

That in consideration of the great and constant danger of the introduction to this State of the 
curculio, or plum weevil, upon fruit trees from the Eastern States, he shall take the necessary 
measures to strictly enforce the quarantine rules relating to this subject, and shall establish such 
places as he shall deem necessary for the inspection of all trees imported into this State from 
without its limits, so that all such trees shall be held in his hand for examination and permit 
to go to their places of destination: and also that in order to enable this officer, or his properly 
appointed Inspectors, to perform this duty, the railroad and other transportation companies are 
hereby requested to aid in every way iu their power the proper carrying out of this resolution. 

The following was presented by A. Cad well and adopted : 

Resolved, That prominent fruit growers throughout the State be invited to contribute to a 
fund to bear the necessary expenses for legal counsel in sustaining horticultural quarantine. 
Contributions to be sent at once to the Secretary of the Board of State Horticultural Commis- 
sioners, John H. Wheeler, 111 Leidesdorff Street, San Francisco. 

After general remarks on the action in Court pending, the follow- 
ing resolutions were offered and seconded : 

Resolved, That the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners heartily approve of the pres- 
ent attempt of the Chief Executive Officer to enforce strict quarantine in accordance with the 
rules published by recommendation of this Board. 

Resolved, That all persons having any interest in the preservation of our fruit industries are 
urged to give their earnest support to those laws which have been enacted with a view to their 
preservation. 

Carried. 

Moved, that at the next meeting of the Board officers be elected 
for the ensuing year. 

Carried. 

Following the above, Mr. Cooke reported on the satisfactory man- 
ner in which the quarantine work was progressing throughout the 
State, giving many interesting phases of the work by way of personal 
illustration, viz.: The successes of different fruit growers; their 
feeling of gratitude toward the Board for indicating the proper 
course for eradicating the pests, etc. 

The President, Mr. Dwindle, then addressed the Board. He spoke 
of the curculio and its attendant now threatening ravages; of the 
great exertion which should be put forth to prevent its introduction 
into California. He further noticed the readiness with which many 
personal enemies of the Horticultural Commission had now become 
the exponents of the valuable principles laid down by the Board, etc. 

On the closing of Mr. Dwinelle's address the Board adjourned. 



50 

Office of Board of State Viticultural Commissioners, ) 
111 Leidesclorff Street, San Francisco, September 28, 1882. j 

The regular quarterly meeting was called to order by President 
Dwindle. Present — Commissioners Cooke, Smith, Shinn, Chapin, 
West, and the Secretary, John H. Wheeler. 

Minutes of preceding meeting read, corrected, and approved. 

In the election of officers announced at the preceding meeting 
which succeeded the above, the following candidates were elected 
without opposing nominations : 

President : C. H. Dwindle (reelected). 
Vice President : Dr. S. F. Chapin. 
Secretary : John H. Wheeler (reelected). 
Treasurer : M. T. Brewer. 

Charles H. Shinn announced his intention of resigning from the 
Commission before another meeting, as he intended to leave for an 
extended trip East; during which trip he expected to contribute to 
the Commission whatever experience he might meet with concerning 
horticulture. 

A communication from the Viticultural Commission was read by 
the Secretary, recommending the Chief Executive Horticultural 'Offi- 
cer to enforce the necessary rules for the protection of our trees from 
curculio and other noxious insects which may be introduced on 
nursery stock. 

Mr. Cooke reported that he had decided to enforce the horticul- 
tural laws, and to have Inspectors appointed at Sacramento, Stockton, 
Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco, to attend to and enforce 
the disinfection of all fruit trees imported during the ensuing year. 

The Secretary read a report on the codlin moth, by Felix Gillet, 
of Nevada City, in which was detailed his successful conquest against 
this insect by the use of bands of cloth about the trees, to be removed 
and cleaned of insects lodging therein at stated periods, besides 
scraping and cleaning the trees well to destroy the larvae and eggs. 
Mr. Gillet further reported on the successful use of sulpho-carbonate 
of potassium in fighting the apple tree root louse on young trees or 
nursery stock. 

Some discussion arose as to how often bands or traps set for the 
larv£e or codlin moth should be cleaned. Gillet's experience was 
that the worm developed in fifteen days; Cooke's, eight days; Dr. 
Chapin's, nineteen days. 

Mr. Cooke exhibited a parasite of, the codlin moth of' great interest 
to all. He further reported that, after extended conference with 
Commissioners, and silk growers throughout the State, and personal 
investigation, he could find no insect injurious to the mulberry tree. 

A communication from Mr. Ell wood Cooper, of Santa Barbara, was 
read by the Secretary, urging the necessity of waging an immediate 
and vigilant war upon the cottony cushion scale of that county ; the 
neglect of which would insure the early destruction of all their fruit 
interests. 

Mr. Dwinelle reported that efficient work was being done by Colonel 
Hollister, of Santa Barbara, in fighting the Icerya purchasi, or cottony 
cushion scale, with hot water. Mr. Dwinelle further produced a 
communication from Albert White, of Riverside, which reported 
that the people of Los Angeles District had become fully alive to the 



51 

necessity of washing trees and fighting insect pests generally, and 
that much washing with soap solutions had been done for the citrus 
trees about Los Angeles. 

The second annual convention of California Fruit Growers, to be 
held at San Jose, on the fourteenth of November, was next consid- 
ered. 

The following committee was appointed to interview transporta- 
tion companies in view of securing reduced fares for horticulturists 
visiting the convention at San Jose in November — Commissioners 
Cooke and Dwinelle. Messrs. Cooke and Chapin were appointed to 
prepare a programme for the above named convention. 

Committee appointed to indicate programme for convention, and 
secure papers to be read at said convention — Messrs. Cooke and 
Chapin. 

Professor Dwinelle exhibited roots covered with woolly aphis, sug- 
gesting that horticulturists look to the same remedy for this insect as 
is relied upon by viticulturists in opposing the phylloxera, viz., in 
resistant stocks, one year's experiment at the University with them 
having proved successful. 

Meeting adjourned. 

JOHN II. WHEELER, Secretary. 



52 



MINUTES OF THE FIRST ANNUAL HORTICULTURAL 
CONVENTION. 



HELD AT SACRAMENTO, IN THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER OF THE STATE 
CAPITOL, ON DECEMBER 6TH AND 7TH, 1881. 

At the quarterly meeting of the Board of State Horticultural Com- 
missioners, held September 29, 1881, the following resolution was 
presented and adopted : 

Resolved, That the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer be authorized to call a general meet- 
ins; of the horticulturists of California, to consider their interests in the matter of destroying 
insects injurious to fruit and fruit trees, the said meeting to be held at some convenient place in 
Sacramento, early in the month of December next. The above officer shall confer with repre- 
sentatives of the leading transportation lines, with a view of securing reduced rates of fare to 
those horticulturists attending the above meeting. At this Convention there will also be dis- 
played apparatus for disinfecting, washes, insecticides, and free packages for fruits. 

Pursuant to the above, the following call was made by Mr. Cooke, 
by publication and otherwise: 

A State Convention of fruit growers, shippers, packers, nurserymen, and others interested in 
horticulture in California, will be held at the Senate Chamber, Sacramento, on Tuesday and 
Wednesday, the sixth and seventh of December, 1881, commencing at 10 o'clock a. m. of the 
sixth, for the purpose of consultation and discussion of the most practical means of exterminating 
the insect pests now infesting the orchards and gardens of the State, and such other subjects as 
may be introduced for the improvement of the fruit growing industries of California. The 
Central Pacific Railroad Company have kindly allowed a two-thirds rate of fare from all their 
stations in California to persons attending the convention, and have issued instructions to their 
agents at all points, as follows: To sell tickets at a two-thirds rate of fare to Sacramento and 
return, by trains arriving in Sacramento on the fifth, sixth, and seventh of December next, such 
tickets to be void after the twelfth of December (excepting the local rste between San Francisco 
and Sacramento, which will be the usual rate, five days' ticket, $5.) Those who have suc- 
ceeded in subduing any of the insect pests of the orchard, etc., are requested to be present and 
bring their weapons of attack, for the information of those beginning the fight. As this will 
be the first convention of fruit growers, etc., in California, we predict good results, and request 
a full attendance. 

By order of the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners. 

C. H. DWINELLE, 

President. 

MATTHEW COOKE, 
Chief Executive Horticultural Officer. 

JOHN H. WHEELER, 
Sacramento, November 7, 1881. Secretary. 

The Horticultural Convention began its session in the Assembly 
Chamber, Sacramento, California, December, 6, 1881. The meeting 
was called to order at 10 o'clock a. m. by Matthew Cooke, Chief Health 
Officer. Upon motion of Dr. Chapin, Prof. C. H. Dwinelle was 
named as temporary Chairman, and William Johnston as Vice- 
Chairman. J. H. Wheeler and Edwin F. Smith were named as tem- 
porary Secretaries. 

Mr. Johnston moved that a committee of five upon organization 
be named by the Chair. So ordered. Whereupon the Chair named, 
as such committee, A. S. White, of Riverside ; R. B. Blowers, of 
Yolo; M. T. Brewer, of Sacramento; N. R. Peck, of Placer; and 
John McMullen, of Solano. 



53 

Matthew Cooke was, upon motion, added to the committee. 

Upon motion of Mr. Johnston, the convention took a recess until 
11 o'clock. 

The convention reassembled at the appointed hour. 

The committee upon organization submitted their report, recom- 
mending: 

FOR OFFICERS. 

Professor C. H. Dwinelle, President; Hon. Wm. Johnston, President pro tern.; J. H. Wheeler 
and Edwin F. Smith, Secretaries. 

FOR ORDER OF BUSINESS. 

1. Address by the President; 2. Report of Chief Health Officer; 3. Appointment of com- 
mittees on ways and means, fruit growers, fruit shippers to Eastern cities, fruit shippers west 
of Omaha, fruit packers, commission merchants, nurserymen ; 4. Address of welcome by Mayor 
J. Q. Brown; 5. Essay on insect pests by Dr. Chapin; 6. General discussion. 

Mr. J. H. Carroll moved the adoption of the report. So ordered. 

Mr. Johnston moved to limit speeches, other than essays and set 
speeches, to five minutes' time. So ordered. 

Upon motion, the first order of business was passed until after the 
noon recess, and Matthew Cooke, Chief Horticultural Officer, was 
requested to present his address and report, which he did, and 
ended by announcing that an exhibit of insect pests would be made 
at the store of M. T. Brewer & Co., Second Street, between J and K, 
in the evening at seven o'clock; also of such apparatus as had been 
found to be most convenient for the applying of liquid solutions on 
trees, etc. 

Mr. Johnston moved that a committee of five be named by the 
Chair to report on the address after the noon recess. Carried. 

And the Chair named as such committee, M. T. Brewer, F. Gillet, 
J. H. Carroll, Charles Gammon, and E. R. Thurber. M. T. Brewer 
declining, Hon. Wm. Johnston was named instead. 

A recess was taken until one o'clock p. m. 

Upon reconvening the following report was made upon Mr. 
Cooke's address : 

REPORT OP COMMITTEE ON ADDRESS OF MATTHEW COOKE. 

The committee to whom was referred the report of the Chief Horticultural Officer of the 
State, Matthew Cooke, Esq., beg leave to report as follows : 

The convention has doubtless listened with great pleasure and still greater instruction to the 
many valuable and useful suggestions therein contained, not alone to the producers of the fruits 
on this coast, but likewise to all shippers, consumers, and all others having in hand the well 
being of that inestimable source of our coast's wealth at heart. The committee trust that the 
report may be so placed before the public of the State that it may not fall as a dead matter, but 
that its full merit and usefulness may be perpetuated by becoming a text to be studied and 
learned in the interest of the great good that has called us together. Your committee further 
recommend that the report be published as soon as practicable for general circulation, and, in 
conclusion, beg to offer the following : 

Resolved, That in Matthew Cooke the State has a first-class Chief Officer, and one who, appre- 
ciating the duties of his office, is willing to devote his labors to their fulfillment. 

Resolved, That the convention of horticulturists here assembled, hereby tender him heartfelt 
thanks for his able essay on our needs, and promise him an effort to second him by our industry 
and perseverance in the good work. 

WM. JOHNSTON, Chairman. 

President C. H. Dwinelle here read an address to the Convention. 
On the completion of which, it was moved by Mr. Brewer that the 
same be submitted to the press, with the request that it be published, 
and made a part of the records of the convention. Seconded and 
carried. 



54 

ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 

Mayor J. Q. Brown, of Sacramento, was introduced, and, pursuant 
to programme, delivered an address of welcome, which, at the will 
of the convention, he was requested to furnish, in synopsis, to the 
Secretaries, to be incorporated in the proceedings of the convention. 
[The synopsis has not been received at the time of making this 
report, j 

Following the above, Dr. Chapin, of San Jose, was introduced and 
read a paper on " the scale insects infesting fruit and fruit trees." 

By unanimous consent, Dr. Chapin's address was added to the 
record of the convention, with the request that the same be disposed 
of in a manner similar to other reports already produced. 

discussion. 

A discussion on subjects reported on, now took place, taking up in 
regular order the borers, codlin moth, scale, etc. 

COMMITTEES APPOINTED. 

The appointment of committees by the President was as follows: 

Fruit Growers— A. S. White, E. R. Thurber, John McMullen, R. B. Blowers, W. Robinson, 
G. M. Gray, Mr. Barker, P. D. Brown, H. Wilson. 

Eastern Shippers— J. F. Farnsworth, E. T. Earle, P. H. Piatt. 

Shippers to Points West of Omaha — W. R. Strong, Samuel Gerson, Eugene Gregory, E. T. 
Adams, D. De Bemardi, W. J. Wilson. 

Commission Merchants— J. M. Hixson, San Francisco; Robert Hall, San Francisco; Mr. Lit- 
tlefield, San Francisco. 

Nurserymen — Robert Williamson, Sacramento; S. McKinley, Los Angeles; Felix Gillet, 
Nevada; Mr. Silva, Placer. 

Ways and Means— M. T. Brewer, A. T. Hatch, Rev. W. R. Peck, George McMullen, W. H. 
Jessup. 

All committees were instructed to submit reports on Wednesday 
forenoon. 

The convention here adjourned to reassemble at 10 o'clock A. m. on 
the following day. 

EVENING MEETING. 

The members of the convention, by invitation, met at the busi- 
ness house of M. T. Brewer & Co., to witness an exhibition of insects 
injurious to fruit and fruit trees. Many citizens were also present. 
The exhibition was gotten up by Mr. Cooke, and consisted of speci- 
mens of all the most destructive insects to the horticultural interests 
that have made their appearance in the State. The specimens were 
shown under magnifying glasses, and in different stages of existence 
and positions, so as to exemplify, in a good degree, their habits and 
natural history. The occasion was also made one of social inter- 
course among the fruit growers and their friends, the conversation 
generally turning upon the fruit industries of the State. 

SECOND DAY. 

The Horticultural Convention met at 10 o'clock a. m. Minutes of 
the preceding session were read and approved. A. S. White, Chair- 
man of the Fruit Growers' Committee, submitted the following 



55 

REPORT OF THE FRUIT GROWERS' COMMITTEE. 

The committee appointed by the Fruit Growers' Convention would recommend the following 
report : 

Whereas, The fruit growing interests of this State, which are of so vast importance, are 
threatened with destruction by insect pests of various kinds; and, whereas, any individual 
action is totally inadequate to meet the enemy successfully j 

1. Resolved, That the fruit growers and farmers of the State be requested to give their earnest 
support to the horticultural laws, and give their united efforts to sustain the Chief Health 
Officer in the execution of the same. 

2. Resolved, That the fruit growers in every county, where Commissioners have not already 
been appointed, shall demand of the Supervisors that they appoint Commissioners according to 
the requirements of the law. 

3. Resolved, That we recommend that the orchardists of the State shall purchase only such 
trees, plants, or cuttings as are known to be free from infectious diseases, and are accompanied 
by a clean bill of health from the Commissioner or Inspector. 

4. Resolved, That all nurserymen shall be required to disinfect all trees and plants to the 
satisfaction of the Commissioners or Inspectors before delivering them to their customers. 

5. Resolved, That we recommend to each and every farmer and fruit grower, as good citizens 
of the State, to use all practical means to keep his trees free from all insect pests, that his 
orchai - ds may not become breeding grounds to the damage of his neighbors. 

6. Resolved, That we request the transportation companies not to return fruit boxes or baskets 
between the twenty-fifth of June and the thirty-first of December. 

7. Resolved, That we recommend that the study of entomology be introduced into our public 
schools, so that the rising generation may be wiser than their fathers. 

A. S. WHITE, 

e. r. thurber, 
john Mcmullen, 
r. b. blowers, 

G. M. GRAY, 
MR. BARKER, 
P. D. BROWN, 
H. WILSON, 
Fruit Growers' Committee. 

Some discussion followed the presentation of the above report, 
many objecting to the clause concerning the return of empty boxes 
by transportation companies. 

The report was finally adopted without alteration. 

REPORT OF SAN FRANCISCO COMMISSION MERCHANTS. 

The committee of San Francisco commission merchants reported 
•as follows : 

Mr. President and Members: The undersigned commission merchants of the City of San 
Francisco, appointed by this convention to report such advice as we deem proper for the 
improvement in quality of orchard produce, respectfully submit the following: In order to 
meet the requirements of the trade, a choice fruit is an imperative requirement, and we are 
perfectly satisfied that any work done in an intelligent manner will well repay the producer 
and have a marked effect on the advance of sales and net proceeds, as it costs the same freight 
and drayage on inferior fruit shipped that it does on first quality. We earnestly recommend to 
the fruit growers to use every effort to improve the produce of the orchard ; and in every respect 
we will use our endeavors to assist in your work. We wish it to be understood that we cannot 
in any way be held responsible for any cost that may be attached to the shipment of fruit, to us 
in violation of the quarantine rules and regulations and other laws for the protection of horti- 
culture. 

J. M. HIXSON. 
S. LITTLEFIELD, 
ROBERT HALL, 
Committee of San Francisco Commission Merchants. 

The report was adopted. 



56 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON NURSERIES. 

The following was submitted and adopted : 

Your Committee on Nurseries begs leave to report, that whereas sundry kinds of insects 
injurious to fruits and fruit trees, vines, plants, etc., are infesting the orchards and gardens of 
this State; and whereas, these insects are spreading very rapidly, and if not cheeked, bid fair 
to ruin the great horticultural interests of our country; and whereas, the nurserymen and tree 
dealers who disseminate trees and plants all over the country, are necessarily in position to 
scatter these pests far and wide; or, on the other hand, to aid materially in checking the spread- 
ing of them; therefore, we, your committee, recommend and urge all nurserymen and others 
disseminating trees and plants, to thoroughly disinfect all trees and plants of eveiy description 
before sending them out or offering them for sale. 

ROBERT WILLIAMSON, 
FELIX GILLET, 
S. McKINLAY, 
C. M. SILVA, 

Committee on Nurseries. 

The report was adopted. 

REPORT ON FRUIT PACKAGES. 

To the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners: 

Your committee appointed at a convention of fruit growers, held at Sacramento, December 
fifth to eighth, on the subject of "disinfecting of fruit packages" and "a cheap free package," 
report jointly as follows: 

To make a perfect system, one of two plans must be adopted; either that of providing at 
each station or landing whence fruit is shipped, an apparatus for the purpose of fumigating or 
disinfecting, or a general location in the principal cities where the packages can be treated in 
large quantities before reshipping to the grower. 

Under the first plan, the cost of apparatus in so many places would result in such a tax on 
the shipper as to be altogether too expensive to be generally adopted, except under compulsion, 
while at the same time, it does not prevent the spreading of the pest during the journey to the 
proposed point of treatment. Under the second plan, the obtaining of sufficient room in cities 
to handle the immense number of packages accumulating daily, together with the extra cartage 
and the elaborate system of accounts necessary to be kept between the commission merchant 
and the manager of the disinfecting establishment, would make it, while perhaps more efficient, 
quite as expensive. It is estimated that, under either plan, an average charge of one and one 
half cents per package will be necessary to cover the cost every time it is disinfected. 

So far as the process of disinfection is to be observed, your committee, after investigating the 
various plans proposed and submitted, submit the following as the most economical, while 
equally sure: That each package be placed in a close tank and exposed to the action of live 
steam, at a minimum temperature of two hundred degrees Fahrenheit, for a minimum period 
of five minutes. 

Your committee is clearly and unanimously of opinion that a free package system is prefera- 
ble to any system of disinfecting that can be adopted, numbering among its advantages: 

First — The saving on freight to market, on account of the lesser weighL of the free package, 
of one half cent each on an average. 

Second — The saving of cartage on return package, for which the commission merchant is 
willing to make an allowance of one cent each. 

Third — The greater price that can be realized for fruit by the commission merchant from the 
actual consumer, on account of its being in clean, new packages, and the fact that canneries are 
willing to pay an additional price if they do not have to nail up and reship empties, both of 
whom have agreed that an increased price can be realized of two and one-half cents on a twenty- 
five pound, and five cents on a fifty pound package. 

Fourth — The saving of the cost of free disinfecting, which we before stated to be one and one 
third cents each. 

Fifth — We have figured closely, that with the advantages already claimed, and the low 
prices at which free packages can be procured, say, on the standard fruits that are marketed in 
boxes, about fifty per cent of the cost of the present return package, and for chests about twenty- 
five per cent, the fruitgrower will find, after a full trial of the free package system for a term 
of years, that he has been at no actual additional expense, and that he has by its adoption 
reached the only successful method, outside of the orchard, of ridding it of pests. 

We find an ordinary free package of twenty-five to thirty pounds weight of peaches, plums, 
or apricots can be furnished for about six cents; one holding forty pounds, for Eastern shipping, 
nine cents; one holding sixty pounds, regular apple size, eleven cents; berry crates, with trays 
or baskets, holding forty pounds strawberries, or forty pounds raspberries, or fifty pounds black- 
berries, or sixty pounds currants, or sixty pounds cherries, for twenty-five cents. 

As an illustration of the actual saving, by using the free package in place of a return pack- 
age, we submit the following estimate of saving on a twenty-five pound box: 



57 

Allowance by commission merchant for drayage 1 cent. 

Cost of disinfecting li cents. 

Freight to market £ cent. 

Increased value from consumer or canner 2J cents. 

Loss in transit and wear and tear 21 cents. 

Total 8 cents. 

E. B. BLOWEES, 
WM. H. JESSUP, 
A. T. HATCH, 
A. D. CUTLEE, 
Committee on Fruit Packages. 

An extended discussion followed this report on all subjects involved 
in the same, more especially regarding the use of free packages, which 
ended by the adoption of the report as amended by Mr. Hatch, to 
the effect that disinfection be recommended instead of the free pack- 
age system. 

Before closing the morning session, President Dwindle made some 
remarks on the good already accomplished by the convention. 

At the reassembling, an informal discussion was had on mildew, 
pruning, etc. 

The following communication was read by the Secretary, J. H. 
Wheeler : 

COMMUNICATION FROM CANNERS. 

To the Convention of Fruit Growers at Sacramento, Cal.: 

The undersigned, manufacturers of hermetically sealed goods, recommend to the fruit growers 
who ship their peaches to the San Francisco market the abolition of baskets and the substitution 
of closed boxes of uniform size, holding twenty-five pounds each, thereby preventing much of 
the stealing and mashing of fruit which now causes a large percentage of loss to both shipper 
and purchaser. 

CUTTING PACKING COMPANY, by A. D. Cutler. 
[Signed] SOL. WANGENHEIM & CO., 

J. M. SPAFFOED & CO., 

CODE, ELFELT & CO., 

A. LUSK & CO., 

KING, MOESE & CO., 

J. LUSK CANNING COMPANY, 

SCHAMMEL, REYNOLDS & CO., 

M. BANNEE & CO. 
San Francisco, December 5, 1881. 

REPORT ON FRUIT SHIPPING TO EASTERN STATES. 

To the Slate Convention of Horticulturists : 

Your committee appointed on fruit shipments to the Eastern States would beg to report as 
follows: 

We have given the subject as careful examination as time would permit, and we find that the 
amount of green fruit shipped to the Eastern States is of great importance to the fruit growers of 
our State. Over four hundred carloads of green fruit has been shipped cast of the Missouri 
Eiver during this year. We find that several important matters stand in the way of Eastern 
shipments of fruit, one being the high rate of freight charged per car, and another the codlin 
moth pest. Both of these ought to be overcome. The first demands, and should receive, careful 
consideration at the hands of the railroad companies, and the other can be remedied by a vig- 
orous and persistent effort on the part of the fruit growers. Fruit that is at all infected by cod- 
lin moth becomes almost worthless before it reaches the Eastern States. We would say that 
we deem it of the utmost importance to growers to do all in their power to make it of profit to 
the fruit shippers to still further extend their already large field of outlet for California's fruit 
productions. 

Some have said, in words, that nothing can be done to exterminate the pests; others have 
spoken still louder by their acts and their failure to fight the destroyer, thus injuring them- 
selves and their neighbors. However, enough has been done to prove, beyond a peradventure, 



58 

that systematic work will save the orchards and vineyards of our State, and cause them to con- 
tinue to be the fruitful source of income to their owners that they have been in the past. "We 
will not here individualize, but we will say that many fruit growers have, by their persistent 
efforts, saved their crops in a marketable condition, when, if they had not used precautionary 
measures, their fruit crops would have been failures. But freight rates and the codlin moth 
are not the only obstacles that meet the Eastern fruit shipper — the state of the weather while on 
the way, and the condition of the market when his fruit reaches its destination, gives him, if 
possible, even more concern. 

The contents of a car is often spoiled by the heat in transit, and both fruit and freight money 
become a total loss. Again, it has often occurred that fruit that cost one dollar and fifty cents 
per box on the track in Sacramento, is sold at twenty-five cents or fifty cents per box in Chi- 
cago, owing to a glutted market or the heated condition of the fruit on arrival. 

These last obstacles are unavoidable, but the others can and should be remedied. 

In conclusion, we here express our earnest hope that all growers will cooperate, and, by 
united and systematic effort, completely eradicate our fair land of the pests that are gnawing at 
and sapping the foundations of all hopes of prosperity to fruit raisers. 

J. F. FARNSWORTH, 
[Signed] EDWIN T. EARL, 

P. E. PLATT, 

Committee on Eastern Shipping. 

The report was adopted. 

REPORT ON FRUIT SHIPPING WEST OF OMAHA. 

The field belonging to this committee covers a great but sparsely populated territory, em- 
bracing eastern California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska. 
This territory has a great variety of climates and soil, and is generally of high altitude, with 
frosts during a large portion of the year, and generally deprived of rains and moisture for long 
periods; and with no facilities for propagating fruit or fruit trees, the supplies in the future, as 
heretofore, will be required from this State. 

As the resources of this growing outlet for California fruits are constantly increasing, it is but 
fair to presume that the population will increase in proportion, and the demand for fruit will 
be greater in consequence. To meet the requirements of this trade, it will necessitate the pro- 
duction of the best quality of every description of orchard products, the cultivation of the best 
varieties, and the careful picking, packing, and handling of the same. We would, therefore, 
suggest : 

First — The varieties to be cultivated : The choicest and most desirable for flavor, size, color, 
beauty of form. Our instructions from consumers are to "ship nothing but choice fruit," with 
the invariable advice that the cost of transportation is fully as much on the poor fruit as on 
the good. 

Second — Fruit required for this trade should be carefully picked just before reaching maturity — 
that is, when it is hard and firm in every part. Even a day's delay in picking will so hasten 
the softening of fruit as to render it unfit for shippers' use. Fruit gathered before being fully 
developed is of no value to the dealer or consumer — never ripening, but becoming shriveled, 
tough, and tasteless ; yet, if gathered and packed when ripe, it will soften and decay before it 
can be marketed. Great care should be exercised, and more attention given to these points 
than heretofore. 

Third — -In packing, the greatest care should be used. Fruit of uniform state of ripeness 
should only be put in the same box, and should be as uniformly sized as possible, placed care- 
fully in layers, packed solid and full. Inferior, or bruised, or overripe fruit, placed with hard 
and choice, ruins and renders the whole unfit for trade, and very often ruins the reputation of 
the dealer, while it at once points out the carelessness of the grower. 

Fourth — Honest, intelligent, and careful fruit growers cannot fail to be well paid for their 
labors, while on the other hand, the slovenly and dishonest must certainly suffer the reverse. 
" Be sure your sins will find you out," may be well applied in this, as in all other careless or 
dishonest dealings. 

Fifth — We recommend uniformity in style and dimensions of boxes for use by fruit packers 
and growers. For apples, fifty-pound boxes, Sacramento style and dimensions ; pears, forty- 
pound boxes, as used for Eastern trade ; plums, twenty pounds; peaches and apricots, twenty 
to thirty pounds; depth from four and one half to seven inches, according to size of the fruit. 
For cherries and small fruits, the San Francisco boxes that are used in chests — ten pounds each. 

Sixth — We recommend the adoption of the " free box " system, as they can be made lighter 
than return boxes, and furnished at little more than half their cost. The fruit is then sold by 
the box, and will command a higher price, as the free package presents a new, smooth, and 
bright appearance, which goes far towards the sale of the contents. The return box has been 
the cause of much of the dissemination of the codlin moth and worm, and of other insect life 
which has brought ruin to our orchards throughout all parts of the State. 

Seventh — Every grower should place his initials on all the boxes leaving his. premises, and 
should be scrupulous to mark the name of the variety of fruit, and its size and quality, the 
state of ripeness — hard, medium, or soft — on the end thereof. The adoption of this system 
will be at once a great benefit to dealers, a convenience to growers, and a certain help towards 



59 

repressing much unnecessary profanity among dealers that are obliged to burst open boxes in 
order to ascertain their contents. 

We believe that the fruit production of California is but yet in its infancy. Twenty-five 
years ago scarcely anything in the way of fruit was raised in this State. At that time one of 
your committee purchased the first peaches produced in Smith's gardens (near this city) for 
$1 50 each, selling them readily for $2 apiece. Apples were first imjjorted from South America 
in 1S51, and sold from fifty to seventy-five cents per pound. After this, Oregon fruit orchards 
came into being, and partially supplied the wants of California. From 1855, attention was 
turned to the capabilities of the soil and climate of this State, and the river bottoms and 
desirable lands near the coast, and afterwards the foothill regions, and even higher altitudes, 
were set out to a considerable extent with fruit trees. The almost universal success in produc- 
tion has demonstrated that California can yet be made one of the greatest fruit countries in the 
world — equaling in quality, size, and beauty, that of any other portion of the earth. 

We believe that the terrible pests of the moth, worm, scale, and other insect life that has 
developed itself, can be entirely eradicated from our State if the efforts now being made under 
the laws passed by our last Legislature are heartily sustained by all, and the combined intelli- 
gence and experience acquired on this subject be put into force. 

The territory assigned to this committee embraces but a small portion of the population 
which has to be supjulied from the produce of the California orchards ; San Francisco, with its 
three hundred thousand population, and other portions of the State with equal or greater popu- 
lation, has to be supplied through dealers; the large and constantly increasing outlet for carload 
shipments to the great cities and dense populations east of the Mississippi River, and the im- 
mense and rapidly growing demand for California canned, desiccated, and dried fruits in Europe 
and elsewhere, putting to test the capabilities of the immense canning establishments already 
in successful operation, and leading to the establishment of others, point unerringly to the great 
future extended to the cultivators of fruit in this State, and affords much encouragement to 
dealers. 

In conclusion, we urge upon all engaged in the growth, packing, and sale of fruit, that the 
most studious care and good judgment should be exercised, and strict and unswerving justice 
and honesty of purpose in every transaction should be observed. No business has suffered more 
by a neglect of these self-evident facts. The grower has often shown himself more anxious to 
palm off his products with reckless disregard of the interests of the dealer and consumer, and 
without a thought of his future reputation. Such men only ruin business, and certainly do not 
deserve success. They should be discarded as unworthy of countenance. 

All of which is respectfullv submitted. 

W. R. STRONG. 
EUGENE GREGORY, 
SAMUEL GERSON, 

C. T. ADAMS. 

D. Le BERNARDI, 
W. J. WILSON, 

Committee. 
Sacramento, December 7, 1881. 

The report was adopted. 

By unanimous consent of those present the business of the con- 
vention was continued to an evening session, which was opened by 
the President, and business continued as before. 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS. 

Your Committee on Ways and Means beg to report as follows : We find it necessary to raise 
$100 to reimburse the Chief Horticultural Officer for moneys he has expended in calling this 
convention, to wit : 

Large posters and printing postal cards $18 00 

Postal cards 20 00 

Postal stamps Ifi 00 

Clerical help in issuing postals, posters, etc 26 00 

Arranging Assembly Chamber and incidental expenses 20 00 

$100 00 

We would also recommend a fair compensation to our two efficient Secretaries and to the two 
Pages for their services. 

To provide for all of which we would recommend an assessment of $1 50 on each memb< 
this convention, to be collected immediately; and furthermore, should there be any surplus, 
then such surplus to be donated to the Agassiz Society to use in the purchase of bonks and 
instruments for use in said society. 

Your committee, realizing the great value of the book recently issued by our Chief Horticul- 
tural Officer, and fully appreciating its value as a disseminator of useful knowledge, we respect- 



60 

fully recommend to your honorable body that Matthew Cooke, Esq., be requested to prepare and 
issue a larger and more complete work, covering such ground as he deems best, and to have 
such work illustrated with ten full pages of colored plates, and that this convention make such 
subscription for books as will warrant Mr. Cooke in preparing such a work. 

Your committee has ascertained that two thousand copies of a book of from three hundred 
to three hundred and fifty pages, with ten pages of colored plates, can be printed, bound, and 
lithographed for $5,500. 

We suggest that a subscription list of 1,500 at $5 each will make $7,500, leaving $2,000 to 
enable Mr. CooUe to collate throughout this State such information as he may require, and 
make such further investigation and experiments as he may find necessary. In view of these 
facts, and knowing the value and need of such a work, we recommend that a subscription list 
be opened immediately, and that the members of this convention be requested to subscribe for 
as many copies as they can. Your committee believe that such a course will do more to lead 
fruit growers to labor for the eradication of the insect pests than any other course that can be 
pursued. 

M. T. BREWER, 
A. T. HATCH, 
GEO. C. McMULLIN, 
WM. H. JESSUP, 
N. R. PECK. 

The report was adopted. 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON DRIED FRUITS. 

Your Committee on Dried Fruits beg leave to report as follows: One of our committee hav- 
ing made a canvass of three months in the Eastern States, visiting the principal cities, makes 
the following statement: That what he saw there convinced him that the dried fruit interest of 
this State is destined to be one of much more importance than has been generally accorded to 
it; while our canned fruits have attracted much more attention than our dried products, the 
latter is gaining favor since the introduction of evaporated fruits. 

Our sun-dried or evaporated apples will find ready market on this coast, on account of the 
limited amount which will be produced because of the ravages of the codlin moth and other 
pests; while, on the other hand, pears, if properly prepared by evaporation, being pared and 
cut into eighths, will command a good price. Any variety of pear suitable for drying will 
meet the requirements. 

Peaches, in consequence of the demand for canning purposes, command too high a price to 
make drying profitable, except in localities too far removed from canning establishments. They 
should be placed on the market either peeled, or otherwise, in an attractive form, so as to insure 
the most remunerative price. 

Apricots, nectarines,' and pitted plums, on account of their not being produced in the Eastern 
States, will always command good prices. 

The prune d'Agen can be made profitable, but growers must meet the competition of European 
products, more particularly those of France. They should be most carefully cured and packed. 
We have still much to learn in assorting and curing. 

We believe that the fig is destined to become an important product among our dried fruits. 

Our observation leads us to believe that most of ourdried fruits, to become profitable for ship- 
ping to the East, should be prepared by artificial evaporation. People purchasing evaporating 
machines should be careful that they be not deceived by misrepresentations of interested parties 
regarding the drying capacity of their machines, as much loss is sometimes made thereby. 

With regard to the proper packages for dried fruits, the following are recommended by the 
State Horticultural Society: 

For peaches, inside measure — 

9 X9&X15 inches, holding 40 lbs. 
5 X9JX15 inches, holding 20 lbs. 
2IX9&X15 inches, holding 10 ft>s. 

The same size for apricots, pitted plums, and prunes, will hold respectively, 50 Ihs., 25 lbs., 
and 12i lbs. 
Apples — 

9X9JX15 inches, to hold 30 lbs. 

Small packages of light material to pack in crates of five pounds, 4JX5X9& inches. 

W. B. WEST, Chairman. 
S. T. CHAPiN. 
A. T. HATCH, 
J. M. HIXSON, 
M. T. BREWER. 

Committee. 

The report was accepted. 






61 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FRUIT PACKING. 

To the Fruit Growers' Convention : 

Gentlemen : Your committee represents a fruit interest second to none in the State, using fully 
one half of the green fruit produced as a whole, and three quarters of certain varieties, such as 
apricots, Bartlett pears, peaches, plums, and quinces. As representing such an interest we desire 
to bring before your body these facts: 

First— To compare favorably with foreign productions of the same character, we require a 
superior quality of size, ripeness, and flavor. 

Second — The territory we are now endeavoring to supply in competition with Eastern pro- 
ducers, is one that, through the drouth of the past season and other favorable circumstances, 
has been opened in a larger measure than ever before, and can only be retained by concessions 
in prices of material and rates of freight that would bear a favorable comparison with those at 
the East, and call for a mutual understanding and agreement as to prices between the fruit 
grower and the canner that will fairly remunerate the grower, and allow the canner the oppor- 
tunity to canvass that market with a fair hope of successful competition in seasons less favorable 
than the last, bearing in mind that the superior manner in which the California canner is accus- 
tomed to prepare his goods, as compared with the Eastern manufacturer, will insure a preference 
at reasonable prices. 

Third — In order to increase the foreign demand of Europe, the East Indies, Australia, and 
China, it must be borne in mind that the greater proportion of their inhabitants are people of 
moderate means, who are accustomed to closer economy than the average Californian, and that 
a small difference in price here, when increased by the natural additions of freight, long credits, 
insurance, etc., is increased many times before the goods reach the consumer, and if not kept 
down to a minimum, reduces the consumption largely. 

As an example of this we would cite the apricot crop of Portugal for 1880, which although 
only an average one, was put upon the English market at such prices as to almost totally 
exclude the California apricot. 

As a further evidence of the beneficial effects of moderate prices, we will call your attention 
to the enormous consumption of canned salmon by the working classes of England, when 
placed at a price within their means, it being noted that every reduction in price has been fol- 
lowed by a corresponding increase in consumption, till at this time the enormous catch of 
250,000 eases (2,100,000 dozens of cans) on the Columbia River is exported to and sold in Eng- 
land, at a price to the eater of twenty cents per can, against a consumption in 1876 of 50,000 
cases, at forty cents per can. 

Fourth — In order to produce the fair average remuneration of the grower, as many inter- 
vening profits as possible, such as freight packages, small and worthless fruits, etc., must be 
abrogated ; and there must also be a certainty as to quantity and quality of the crop as a whole, 
and individual shipments in particular, regarding which points the canner is usually in the 
dark up to the moment of use. 

Fifth — Your committee earnestly advocate the adoption of the free package, whenever prac- 
ticable to the grower, and feel sure the canners will advocate it, to the extent of bearing a fair 
proportion of the cost — say one half. 

Sixth — The unanimous recommendation of the canners of San Francisco and vicinity that 
Sacramento River peaches be shipped in close boxes, rather than baskets, has our approval, from 
the fact that fully five per cent of the best part of each basket is ruined, by stealing and mashing 
during shipment and distribution. 

In this particular, we would call attention to the fact that there is no uniform weight of peaches 
in baskets, it varying from twenty pounds to twenty-five pounds. That cannot but result in 
constant misunderstandings between shipper and consumer. 

Seventh — We recommend for canners' use the following standard varieties: 

Apples — Fall and Newtown Pippins. 

Apricots — Royal. 

Cherries — Large white and meaty varieties. 

Plums — Yellow Egg, Greengage, Coe's Golden Drop, Columbia, Washington, Jefferson, 
Ickworth. 

Peaches — Yellow Crawford, White Heath, Yellow Cling. 

Pears — Bartlett. 

Eighth — While we are not familiar with the causes and remedies of the various fruit pests, 
we perhaps are in a position better than the majority of consumers to appreciate their baneful 
effects, and shall at all times aid in their extermination in any manner your society may 
decide best. 

Ninth — We recommend a closer and more intimate relation between the canner and producer, 
in order that canned fruits may become like many articles familiar to us, a necessity raiherihan 
a luxury, and to this end we invite at all times a free, frank, and open discussion of the points 
suggested in this report. 

A. D. CUTLER, 
J. II. MORRIS, 
Committee on Fruit Packers. 

Sacramento, December 7, 1881. 



62 

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON RAILROAD FREIGHTS. 

To the State Board of Horticultural Commissioners : 

A committee of five was appointed by the Horticultural Convention, which was in session 
in Sacramento, December sixth and seventh last, to wit : E. T. Earl, W. R. Strong, J. M. Hixson, 
M. T. Brewer, and A. T. Hatch, for the purpose of conferring with the railroad companies 
on the subject of reduction of rates of freights on fruits. Said committee to report to your 
honorable body. 

Therefore, said committee beg to report as follows: 

On the twenty-second day of December, 1881, the committee (with the exceptions of Mr. E. 
T. Earl and J. M. Hixson, who were at the time in the southern part of the State) called upon 
General Superintendent A. 1ST. Towne and General Freight Agent J. C. Stubbs, at Mr. Towne's 
office in San Francisco, where an hour and a half was spent in a discussion of the subject in its 
various phases. While the officers of the railroad seemed to be willing to accede to any reason- 
able request, your committee failed to show how the railroad company would be benefited by 
making concessions (at least to their satisfaction). A guarantee of an increase of the amount of 
freight to any considerable extent, might be met by them with a reduction equal to seventy per 
cent of the net profits arising from such increase in quantity, providing said increase resulted 
from or on account of said reduction in rate. Furthermore your committee saith not. 

Respectfully submitted. 

A. T. HATCH, Chairman. 

The Committee on Ways and Means, after canvassing the conven- 
tion in accordance with the adopted report to the Board made before, 
submitted the following as their final report: 

RECEIPTS AND EXPENSES OF THE CONVENTION. 

Cash received from convention by M. T. Brewer $127 75 

Cash by M. T. Brewer and M. Cooke 19 10 

Total $146 85 

Cash Or. 

By printing fifteen hundred posters $18 00 

By printing two thousand postal cards 4 00 

By printing one half letter circular 2 00 

By two thousand postal cards 20 00 

By twelve hundred one cent wrappers 13 45 

By postage stamps 3 30 

By labor mailing, posting, etc 12 00 

By labor hired for setting up, attending to, and tending doors, exhibit 26 50 

By cash paid expressage 2 10 

By cash paid janitor Assembly Chamber 39 50 

By cash paid two pages at convention 6 00 

Total $146 85 

IN MEMORIAM. 

Whereas, John B. Saul, of Oak Shade, Yolo County, has been removed by death ; therefore, 
be it 

Resolved, That in him a typical horticulturist has been lost, whom Californians truly miss. 
Born in Ireland, early removing to America, studying and practicing horticulture under the 
instruction of Downing and his associates upon the Hudson, he soon became known as excep- 
tionally well versed in the literature and skilled in the practice of his honorable calling. In 
California he distinguished himself and won deserved success. His example in close attention 
to every detail of his calling, and perseverance in striving for the highest excellence, in the face 
of great difficulties, is worthy of praise and imitation by others. His loss will be sincerely felt 
by all who knew him. 

ROBERT WILLIAMSON, 
MRS. JOHN BIDWELL, 
R. B. BLOWEES, 
C. H. DWINELLE, 
A. T. HATCH. 

Adopted. 

The convention then adjourned to meet in San Jose on the second 
Tuesday (fourteenth) of November, 1882. 

JOHN H. WHEELER, 

Recording Secretary. 



ADDENDA. 



The following Reports were received too late to be placed with 
the Reports of the other Cornrnissioners. 



REPORT BY S. F. CHAPIN, M. D., 

COMMISSIONER FOR THE SAN" FRANCISCO DISTRICT. 



SCALE INSECTS. 



The prevalence of scale insects in the orchards of Santa Clara 
Valley during the past few years has afforded ample scope for their 
study, to which I have for the past three seasons devoted what time 
I could command. Assigned to this work by you, I shall report as 
concisely as possible the information gained, and the results obtained 
by numerous experiments carried on and observed for two seasons. 
I shall here use in this paper, as a part of it, a report presented to the 
Santa Clara County Horticultural Society, August 6, 1881, by Mr. D. 
C. Vestal and myself, with such revision and correction as another 
year has shown to be needed, and with added memoranda to the 
experiments detailed, in order to present their full effects after a 
lapse of more than a year. I shall also detail other experiments, and 
shall refer to work done on an extensive scale for the destruction of 
the scale pests, and which has shown most gratifying results. 

All scale insects impair, to a greater or less degree, the vitality and 
productiveness of the tree or plant upon which they live. Of the 
seven species which have here been observed as infesting our decid- 
uous orchard trees and fruits, five are of frequency and of such 
importance as to attract the attention of orchardists. These are the 
Lecanium oless, Aspidiotus rapax, Aspidiotus conchiformis, Aspidiotus 
perniciosus, and the Icerya purchasi, the two last named being the 
most dangerous of all scale pests which the orchardist has to en- 
counter. 

Lecanium ole,e. — This scale is beginning to attack other trees 
than the orange and its kindred. A year since I examined an 
orchard where it existed in overwhelming numbers upon the German 
prune, Briggs' Red May, and the Early Crawford peaches, upon the 
Moorpark apricot trees, and most of all upon the 
Petite prune d'Agen trees. This is believed to be 
the direct result of planting a few orange trees 
close by. Mr. Ellwood Cooper has written fully 
upon this scale, to whose reports 1 refer you. 

Aspidiotus rapax. — So named by Prof. J. H. 
Comstock. This scale is rapidly spreading, and is 
now found in many places where unknown a year 
or two ago. It seems to be most prominent in Santa 
Cruz County, where it can be abundantly found. 
I have, during the past two seasons, observed it in 
many places in Santa Clara County, and have had 
specimens sent me from San Lorenzo, Alameda 
County, where it was abundant upon pear trees, a 
branch sent being well covered with the old scale, 
and also newly hatched young crawling^about. 

9* " 




Greedy Scale. 
Aspidiotus rapax. 



66 

This scale seems to be native to the willow and alder, and other 
indigenous trees. It, however, is found in great numbers upon 
acacia trees, upon the black locust and poplar, and upon some of 
our orchard trees, as the pear and apple. This scale somewhat 
resembles the Aspidiotus perniciosus, and by many is confounded 
with it, but it is not to be compared to the latter for destructiveness. 

Aspidiotus conchiformis. — The one longest known, and which 
was discovered and described in Maine in 1794, has ever since that 
time infested the apple tree particularly, although found upon other 
fruit trees and upon the currant. This is now found in great num- 




Oyster Shell-bark Louse. 
Aspidiotus conchiformus. 

bers upon almost all old apple trees on this coast, and is commonly 
known as the bark louse or the oyster shell scale. It may be found 
described in works on entomology. This species has not caused so 
much injury as to alarm fruit growers to any great extent, although 
it is described by Dr. Packard as doing more injury to the apple tree 
than any other insect known. 



COTTONY CUSHION SCALE. 



Next will be described a comparatively new scale heretofore, but 
one which has within the last two or three years been ravaging many 
localities in widely different parts of the State. This is the so-called 






Cottony Cushion Scale. 
Icerya purchasi. 



dorthesia, or, as named by Maskell, Icerya purchasi, and called by 
Mr. Matthew Cooke the cottony cushion scale. 



67 

This scale has been, it is asserted, known to be on the acacia for 
seven years in San Jose, but it is only during the past and present 
seasons that it has attracted attention. Its great prolificness, and its 
destructive abilities, have called widespread attention to it. This 
pest attacks everything in the way of tree, vine, or shrub ; all the 
evergreens, as well as deciduous trees that fall in its way are attacked, 
and every ornamental shrub on the lawns of some portion of our 
cities will show its presence. The ivy, even, is not proof against it. 
In San Rafael, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles, it is well 
established. While in San Jose it has not this season caused so great 
damage as last, yet in the citrus-growing regions it is becoming one 
of the most serious pests they have to encounter, and it is even stated 
that, should its ravages not be checked, orange and lemon culture 
will have to be abandoned. 

From the rapid destruction which follows the presence of this 
scale, it is well that it should be widely recognized, and its first inva- 
sion noticed and checked. In San Jose, in 1881, it was first noticed 
in May as the fully developed female, from which the first brood of 
young then appeared. 

The present season of 1882, the first young 'appeared May 25; the 
mother insect having gradually matured her eggs from the opening 
of Spring until the young were hatched. The egg of the Icerya is 
small, pale or orange red, elongated and ovoid. The young just 
hatched out are very active, and are very minute, perhaps the twenty- 
fifth of an inch in length. The body is pale red ; the six legs and 
two antennas are black. The antennas are long and club-shaped, 
and have from six to nine joints, as they are further matured. The 
antennas are covered with long hairs, which bristle forth promi- 
nently. The eyes are small and black. Between the pair of forelegs 
on the under side of the body is to be seen the beak or sucker, by 
which the insect secures its nourishment. 

The females partly grown are of a variety of colors, orange red 
mostly, and spotted over with white and green ; some are nearly 
entirely a dirty white, and many are a pea green. It seems that the 
coloring matter of the plant they are upon colors them to some 
extent. Their body is ovoid and elongated and flattened, the back 
being ridged up with several segments quite prominent. Around 
the rim of the body are a multitude of hairs, standing out promi- 
nently. Around the rear half of the body, on its rim, is a row of 
tubercles or spinarets, from which a white secretion issues, forming 
a 6ottony cord, and these placed side by side and the interspace filled 
up by the same material running lengthwise the body and projecting 
from it, gives the whole a ribbed, satin-like appearance, whitish in 
color. Gradually, as the insect matures, these projecting ridges ap- 
proach each other at the ends, and are joined together and curved 
under slight^ at the point, while the sides are at the same time 
curved under the whole length, and the edges joined together with a 
flat ribbon-like band, the whole forming, when complete, a soft elastic 
white sack, the size and somewhat the shape of a medium-sized white 
bean. The length, when mature, is about three eighths of an inch ; 
the width, one fifth of an inch. 

Inside the sack are deposited the eggs of the female, among the 
interstices of a mass of cotton-like fiber, which under a high magni- 
fying power is shown to be round and not more than one sixth part 
the thickness of pure cotton fiber, with which it was compared in 



68 

the same field. This mass of cottony fiber is filled with a great 
amount of granular matter, for the purpose, it may be, of affording 
sustenance to the young insects within the sack. The young hatch 
out in this sack, and make their way out into the world through a 






Black Scale. 
Lecanium olece. 



rent in the soft and tender underside of the sack. The female, after 
finding her home and during maturity, does not move, although she 
does not lose her legs, but clings tenaciously with her feet to her sup- 
port, leaving the body tipped up in the rear and the cottony mass 
movable in any direction. The male insect was only found 
during a period of about two weeks from September twenty-fifth. 
This was the observation of 1881, when I found them in great num- 
bers. I have failed to find the male insect this season. It has a long 
red body, six legs, and one pair of very long, dark, and transparent 
wings, prominent eyes, and antenna? very long, and covered with 
hairs arranged very much as the feathers of a peacock. The antenna? 
are 16 or 17 jointed. The winged male is easily seen and easily 
caught, as it moves slowly about, and is not readily disturbed so as 
to fly away. The female insect lives upon the trunk of the tree and 
large limbs, and down to the smallest twigs, around which it may be 
seen clinging in clusters sufficiently great to completely hide the 
branch ; also upon the leaf, along the stem and ribs of which it is 
fixed, both above and below, although more abundant on the under 
side of the leaf. 

There are three broods of this insect in the season, the first appear- 
ing in May, the second in August, and the third in October, or about 
three months apart. I have just observed (October fifteenth) the 
mature female with eggs fully grown, and with the young hatched out 
and crawling in the same sack. In 1881 they rapidly increased from 
about the first of August, and were continually appearing and still 
hatching out in December. 

Every female, it is estimated, produces from 200 to 500 young. 
The young will mature and produce a new brood in about three 
months. Where this scale infests deciduous trees it may be readily 
destroyed by the application now found to be successful in treating 
the Aspidiotus perniciosus and detailed further on in this report. 

Where, however, evergreens are involved, it is a far more serious 
problem. The best treatment for the Icerya, so far found, is that used 
by Mr. Cooper, of a strong and hot infusion of tobacco, applied by 
spray as near as may be at 130°. 



69 



ASPIDIOTUS PERNICIOSUS. 



By far the most injurious scale pest infesting our orchard trees and 
fruit is the new species of Aspidiotus, which, so far as known, origi- 
nated in San Jose, and for some years was confined to this locality. 
It has been known as the San Jose small, round, black scale, and 




San Jose Scale Insect. 
Aspidiotus perniciosus. 

named by Prof. Comstock Aspidiotus perniciosus. The spread of this 
scale over the State has been gradually taking place, until now it can 
be found in a number of the fruit-growing counties, notably San 
Joaquin, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo, Solano, 
Sonoma, Alameda, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and others, and I am told 
even in Humboldt in the north and in the southern counties. This 
scale produces terrible results in an orchard when once established. 
Its ravages have caused widespread alarm, and unless checked soon 
causes entire destruction of the trees infested. The trees become 
entirely covered with the scale, so that no portion of the bark can be 
seen. The fruit also becomes covered in the same manner and is 
rendered unfit for use. The losses caused by the ravages of this 
insect cannot be easily computed. Whole orchards are literally 
destroyed by it. In many cases those who have recognized its pres- 
ence and destructive power in time have made most strenuous efforts 
to stajr its spread and save their trees, but it has hitherto been, to a 
great degree, discouraging, owing to the difficulties encountered in 
fighting an unknown foe. Within the past two years, however, great 
progress has been made in destroying this insect, and it is now con- 
sidered certain that we have an efficient means of ridding ourselves 
of one of the most dangerous pests known to fruit growers. 

The trees attacked embrace every kind of deciduous fruit trees 
except the Black Tartarian cherry, and it is supposed two or three 
other black cherries. Some varieties are less liable than others to its 
attacks, but we have found it upon all other trees than those excepted 
above. 

Poplar and other ornamental and shade trees give it a support. It 
infests hedges of osage orange and the wild cherry, many of which 



70 

have been destroyed in the past two years and have been dug out. It 
is found on the currant, and quickly destroys the bush. It has been 
found upon rhubarb, and tomato plants growing in orchards among 
infested trees. This scale evidently prefers some varieties of trees, 
but yet when placed upon others not so well liked, will stay and col- 
onize to some extent. 

The effect of this scale insect upon the tree is peculiar. After a 
short residence there, the green layer of the bark becomes stained a 
very dark red color, which continues until the death of the limb or 
tree, unless the insect be killed. The bark may then be restored to 
its normal color and health. 

The damage in Santa Clara County has already become so great as 
to cause the most serious losses, not alone to the fruit growers, but 
also to the public at large; and from the orchards affected has greatly 
lessened the revenue which has been derived from the production 
and sale of fruit. One instance, stated definitely, will suffice to show 
these losses. 

This orchardist states (1881) that he has 2,000 trees badly infested 
with scale; 1,000 of these trees are totally destroyed, and will be dug- 
out this season; the balance are badly injured, but can probably be 
saved. This portion of his orchard, in health, returned at least 
$5,000 per year. His loss on crop from these trees in 1880 was over 
$2,000. For 1881 there was a total loss of crop on 1,500 trees. This 
orchard has regularly paid an interest of 10 per cent on $1,000 per 
acre. The scale pest alone has caused a loss of $20,000 to the owner. 

Further on reference will again be made to this orchard. The 
Assessor's roll for 1881 reports in this county 335,537 bearing trees of 
the apple, pear, plum, and peach. This does not include the large 
number of trees which have been destroyed and are unfruitful; 
neither the immense number of young trees that have been planted, 
but not yet paying; and, as observed, it leaves out the large number 
of other varieties, cherries, almonds, apricots, etc., in bearing, which, 
it is estimated, would make a grand total of 1,000,000 trees. Should 
the losses experienced by the orchardists now suffering be carried 
out to all, you can readily estimate the astounding result. The value 
of the Santa Clara County fruit crop for 1880 was returned at $976,475, 
notwithstanding the immense losses incurred. The sworn statement 
of the Assessor, now before me, says: "That all fruit trees in Santa 
Clara County are assessed as improvements at the following prices: 
trees in full bearing, free from scale, $1 50 per tree ; trees bearing,, 
affected with scale, from .00 to 50 cents per tree, and that there is a 
large number of orchards situated east and northeast from the City 
of San Jose, badly infested with scale (and after naming some, says),. 
and in consequence are assessed at .00 to 50 cents per tree." From 
this it will be seen that the revenue derived from taxation is seriously 
affected by the presence of this pest upon our orchard trees. 

The Assessor's roll for 1882 gives of the four varieties of trees 
named above — apples, peaches, pears, and plums — bearing trees sub- 
ject to taxation, 280,347, a deduction from the previous year's assess- 
ment of 55,190 trees. This loss is, in fact, upon apple, plum, and 
peach trees, as the young pear trees coming into bearing, and being 
assessed for the first time, more than equal the loss on that variety. 
So it is seen that the loss in assessed value on these three kinds of 
trees totally destroyed has amounted in the one year to $82,785. This 
is actually but a small part of the loss, as other varieties of trees 



destroyed, and the losses of previous years from the scale, as well as 
the reduced value of trees affected but still bearing, cannot well be 
enumerated. These trees were destroyed before the application of 
proper remedies ; now, however, from the knowledge of correct treat- 
ment, these losses will soon cease, and the taxable property of the 
county be immensely increased. I feel assured that the next assess- 
ment will show a decided improvement. Thus the magnitude of 
this evil becomes apparent, and the problem to be solved is of vast 
importance. 

DESCRIPTION OF THIS PEST. 

From the study we have given to this scale during the past three 
years, it may be briefly described as follows: The scale insect is 
massed upon the bark of the tree and fruit as well, the scale of a 
dark gray or blackish and tough material which covers the insect 
being very small and round in shape over the female, while that 
covering the male is much smaller and elongated on one side. In 
both, the higher and central portion of the scale has a yellowish 
color, and directly under which may be found the insect itself, which 
is soft and delicate in structure and of a pale straw color. There is 
no connection between the cover and the insect, which is merely pro- 
tected by it from harm. The shell-like scale is formed by either the 
cast-off skins of the larva or by a waxy secretion of the body of the 
insect. The microscope shows the young female insect oval in shape 
and flattened. 

At first it is very small and hardly perceptible to the naked eye, 
but careful observation will detect it as a minute yellow dot on the 
bark of the tree, crawling about with the six legs with which it is 
provided, and seeking a favorable locality upon which to fix itself 
for life. It will crawl about for only a day or two, and then fastens 
itself to the bark by a beak-like proturberance which it inserts, and 
procures nourishment from juices of the tree. Immediately after 
fixing itself it begins to be covered with a silvery material, which, as 
it grows older, is gradually changed in color to a very dark hue, and 
enlarges to the size of about one sixteenth of an inch in diameter. 
The insect, soon after fixing itself, loses its legs and antennas, and 
thus remains through life, keeping its flattened shape, but growing 
wrinkled and almost round, gradually increasing in size to perhaps 
one sixty-fourth of an inch in width, and one fiftieth of an inch in 
length when full of young. After the young emerge it is dried up 
and disappears. We have counted from the female, when full of 
young, between fifty and sixty of the minute sacks which contain the 
young perfectly formed insects ready to crawl about. The young 
male insect is produced in the same manner and at the same time, 
though not in such numbers — perhaps half a dozen males to a hun- 
dred females. In size, the male is about one third that of the female, 
and in shape very different, being elongated and more angular; pro- 
vided with six legs, placed differently upon the body, with two 
antennas and two eyes, and with a teat-like protuberance at the rear 
end of the body, ending with a point. 

At this stage of its existence the male has no wings, and it cannot 
be discerned without the aid of a magnifying glass. The color of the 
young male is not a yellow, but of a steel-like or whitish hue. It 
crawls about and fixes itself upon the bark, as does the young female, 
and becomes covered with a scale in the same manner, but which is 



72 

elongated upon one side, and not more than one half the size of the 
scale of the female. The male, after remaining its allotted time in 
the pupa state, emerges as a fully developed insect, having eyes, 
antennae, six legs, and one pair of very long wings of a reddish and 
transparent appearance, and the protuberance at the rear end of the 
body is developed into a very long tapering point, nearly as long as 
the body itself. The perfect winged male is so minute it can with 
great difficulty be discerned by the naked eye, crawling and flying 
about in search of the female, which it impregnates under the scale, 
and then, having fulfilled its mission, dies. 

In the season of 1880 we saw the winged males first appear on 
March twenty-third, and in great numbers for a few days. The first 
brood of young scales appeared the latter part of April. On June 
twenty-seventh we found the males from the first brood under the 
scales and nearly developed with appendages and wing pads, and 
on July second large numbers of them flying about ; also, as late 
as July twenty-fifth, and still later, on August second, a few were seen. 
On July twenty-third, the trees were covered with the young of the 
second brood. August second the young males of the second brood 
were found crawling about. Bark scraped clean on the twenty-third 
of July was found on the twenty-fifth alive with young insects, and 
some of them already commencing to be covered with scale. As it 
was expected at the time these observations were made, a third brood 
would appear about October, so we found it. On October seventeenth 
we found the male scale insect in the first pupa stage of development 
in the winged form, and also, on the same day, found the perfect 
winged insect of the third brood moving about on the tree. 

These facts prove conclusively that there are three distinct broods 
of these insects in the season, the earliest portion of the first brood 
about March twenty-third, of the second brood about July second, 
and of the third brood about October seventeenth, there being appa- 
arently an interval of fourteen to fifteen weeks between the differ- 
ent broods of the season. The young female insects were found 
crawling about through the season, and as late as the last of Novem- 
ber. The last brood remains through the Winter under the scale 
until the approach of warm weather in the Spring, when they 
again appear. 

While the Aspidiotus conchiformis will develop but one, or at most 
two broods per season, this new species of Aspidiotus will produce 
three broods, and each female probably fifty young. This present 
season of 1882 has been, in the development of fruit and insects, 
about three weeks or more later than usual, consequently the appear- 
ance of the scale was not expected as early as last year. The first 
winged male scale insects of this species were discovered this year on 
April twenty-fifth, crawling about on an English hawthorn tree. 
At that time no young female scale insects were to be found, but 
the old females under the scales were approaching maturity, and in 
due time the young appeared. 

FOES OF SCALE INSECTS. 

The natural enemies of the scale insects are the larvae of some 
varieties of the Coccinellidse, or lady-birds. 

The season of 1881 developed in great numbers an important 
enemy of the scale, viz. : the Chrysopa or lace-winged fly, the larvae 



73 

of which prey upon it. This is a beautiful, slender, and delicate fly. 
bright green in color, with large golden eyes, and very long wings 
like lace. The eggs are very minute, white, and oval in shape, and 

fare attached by a long and 
CI^X MUfff??? s l en der pedicle to the under- 

^^.^ ^^^^^ \ Ijjj side of leaves or the fruit. The 
^_^^^^^^^^^^^g|^ larvae is about one quarter of 
T " ~^r~~ '^^^ an inch long, slender, and 

Lace-winged r ly. . . , _ • «• ,1 • i j 1 

chrysova tapering from the middle 

toward both ends. It is pro- 
vided with jaws, each perforated, through which it sucks the juice 
of its victim. 

REMEDIES FOE, SCALE INSECTS. 

In 1881 Mr. J. H. M. Townsend, of the Santa Clara County Horti- 
cultural Society, kindly placed at our disposal a large number of 
trees infested with scale Aspidiotus perniciosus, for the use of the com- 
mittee in making such experiments as were desired. A series of 
careful experiments for the destruction of the scale pest were made 
and the results carefully noted. Other experiments had been under 
way in our own orchards for many months. 

These experiments demonstrated on one hand the inefficiency of 
many applications, and on the other hand showed a certain means 
for the destruction of the scale insect. The remedies which have 
proven successful will destroy all the varieties of scale, as the one 
under treatment is the most difficult of all to overcome. A portion 
of these experiments are numbered, and the results obtained, stated 
as observed, at different dates up to this time, October, 1882. 

No. 1. Concentrated lye of the American Lye Compan} r , one 
pound ; water, two gallons. February 22, 1881 — Applied by spray 
upon two peach trees infested by scale; washed in the afternoon 
when the trees were dry ; effect, scale killed ; the tenderest wood was 
killed also. July 5, 1881 — New wood grown over the trees four and 
five feet long. 

No. 2. Concentrated lye, one pound ; water, two gallons. March 
10, 1881 — Applied by spray upon two peach trees infested by scale, 
washed in the morning when the trees were damp with dew. July 
5,1881 — Scale killed ; buds and twigs not injured; fruit abundant 
and trees most healthy. 

No. 3. Concentrated lye, one and one half pounds.; water, one 
gallon, June 23, 1881 — Applied by pouring from a dipper upon two 
pear trees infested with scale and with numerous limbs dead. Lye 
so strong as to burn bark and foliage. August 2, 1881 — Scale entirely 
destroyed ; bark being restored and new foliage appearing. 

No. 4. Concentrated lye, one pound; water, one gallon. July 5, 
1881 — Applied by spray upon a large apple tree badly infested by 
scale; bark and leaves burned. August 2, 1881 — Scale killed; green 
layer of bark being rapidly restored, and new leaves and blossoms 
appearing all over the tree. The foregoing trees have since been 
mostly killed by the application of a low grade of coal oil. 

No. 5. Concentrated lye, one pound ; water, one gallon. February. 
1881 — One almond tree, one Easter Beurre pear tree, and two apple 
trees, grafted, were washed by brush with this strength of lye, in order 

10' 



74 

to destroy the red spider and its eggs, which could not be destroyed by 
previous applications of lye, one pound to five gallons, and also one 
pound to three gallons; another and the main reason being to ascer- 
tain the effects of very strong lye upon the trees. No scale upon 
these trees. This application destroyed the red spider and its eggs on 
these trees so that it did not appear for months ; but, however, later 
on the trees became again infested. While the strong lye will destroy 
a large number of the eggs of the red spider, it is found that all can- 
not be reached. The effect upon the bark and health of these trees 
was wonderfully good, the bark being very smooth and having a 
bright green velvety appearance, and totally free from all moss or 
other parasite. 

No. 6. Concentrated lye, one pound; water, one gallon. The 
experiments in this number were made upon a section of orchard in 
a square block, comprising three hundred and fifty-seven Ickworth 
plum trees, cut down and grafted into Petite prune; some yearling 
prune trees having been put in in places and washed as were 
the plums. Of these, one hundred and twenty-six trees were washed 
in February, 1881, with the above strong lye, applied with a brush. 
Among the three hundred and fifty-seven trees were eight trees badly 
infested with scale. No others had any scale upon them. The infested 
trees were scattered about as follows, and washed as indicated: 

No. 10 in first row, and 4 in eleventh row were washed with lye, 
one pound to three gallons of water. The effect was not quite suffi- 
cient to completely destroy the scale, though so injured that they did 
not breed. Afterward these two trees were washed with one pound 
to one gallon, and this effectually ended the scale. No. 7 in sixth 
row, 10 in seventh row; 11 in twelfth row, 8 in fourteenth row, 3 in 
seventeenth row, and il in seventeenth row, were washed with lye, 
one pound to one gallon of water, with the effect of completely 
destroying every scale upon them, and not one has appeared upon 
any of these trees since that time. These trees have been in the 
finest possible condition from the time of this application. 

Among the trees not washed with the strong lye, two were found 
in June, 1882, to have scale upon them; one of these, the top having 
become badly broken by wind, was dug out and burned ; the other 
was washed soon as discovered with the whale oil soap and sulphur 
mixture ; owing to the foliage upon the tree, not every part of it 
could be touched. Yet, however, the scale was destroyed, so far as 
could be found. 

No. 7. Concentrated lye, one pound to one and one half gallons 
water. Five Bartlett pear trees obtained from the nursery and 
planted in 1881 and scattered among a considerable number, although 
carefully examined at the time for scale, were found in June, 1881, to 
have a few scales upon them. These were at once washed with the 
above strength of lye, which destroyed the scale completely upon 
three of these trees, so that none subsequently appeared. On two of 
them, however, a live scale or two must have remained on the trunk 
of the tree, at the surface of the ground, untouched by the lye, as in 
September following a few young scales were discovered, located close 
to the ground. These were again washed in the same manner. Since 
that washing no scale has been found upon either of these trees until 
this month (October 16, 1882). On one of them has been found a few 
young scale. The tree was immediately washed with the whale oil 
soap and sulphur mixture. On another Bartlett pear tree, not, how- 



75- 

ever, numbered with the above, was found some scales, November 7, 
1881. This tree, being entirely dormant, was washed with lye, one 
pound to one gallon water, completely destroying the scale, as none 
can be found on it this year. Among the Yellow Egg plum trees, 
one was found January, 1882, with scale upon it, and washed at once 
with lye, one pound to one gallon water, and repeated in February. 
No scale were left, as none can be found at this date. Another Egg- 
plum tree was found infested in June of this year. To this was 
applied, by a brush, the whale oil soap and sulphur mixture, with 
some lye added. No scale can now be found upon it. 

The trees in experiments five, six, and seven, are in an orchard of 
fifty acres. I have constantly and carefully watched all these trees, 
and at this date no scale can be discovered in the entire orchard. 
Should any hereafter appear, the treatment will be by lye, one pound 
to one gallon of water. With this success in my two years' indi- 
vidual practice, I feel justified in repeating the statement I made at 
the first State Fruit Growers' Convention, that young orchards can 
be kept free from the Aspidiotus perniciosus by the right use of con- 
centrated lye as a Winter wash, and the whale oil soap and sulphur 
mixture for Summer. 

In the following experiments, the trees were all badly infested with 
scale : 

8. Concentrated lye, one and one half pounds ; water, one gallon. 
June 24, 1881 — Applied to two Clairgeau pear trees; brush used in 
order to save foliage ; many limbs dead from effects of scale. June 
27 — Trees burned considerably; scale killed where reached. July 
2 — Much of the bark showing a healthier appearance. July 23 — 
Trees still better. August 2 — No sign of scale ; green layer of bark 
being restored very rapidly ; the fruit quite clean, because no scales 
of second brood were upon it. April 25, 1882 — Examined the trees, 
and found a very healthy top, and with new bark where burned 
with the lye when washed in the Summer. All the surface was 
not touched by the lye, and where not washed, the scales still existed. 
Wherever the bark was washed, owing to the time that it was done, 
it was cracked across. Yet underneath this cracked surface was 
found new and healthy bark. October 14, 1882 — There has been a 
good growth of new wood this season, and the under bark has main- 
tained its fresh and healthy appearance over entire tree. 

9. Concentrated lye, one and a half pounds; water, one gallon. 
June 24, 1881 — Applied on a portion of tree to ascertain the effect 
upon the stain of bark. July 23 — The bark where washed shows 
much less stain ; lighter in color, and the green layer being restored. 
August 2 — Stain rapidly disappearing. 

10. Concentrated lye, one pound ; water, one gallon. July 5, 1881 — 
Mixed accurately, and applied same day upon pear tree. July 23 — 
Scale, where reached, entirely destroyed ; bark burned by the lye, 
but otherwise healthy and good where it was previously sound. 
April 25, 1882, and October 14, 1882 — Observations nearly the same 
as in the preceding number, the bark under the cracked outer layer 
being all renewed, and with a bright, healthy, green layer free from 
stain ; free growth of new wood during the season. 

11. Concentrated lye, one pound ; water, one and one half gallons. 
Tree washed same time as above and with about the same results, 
although an unthrifty tree. October 14, 1882 — The tree had been 



•76 

pretty well destroyed by the scale last year, and shows but a little 
growth of new wood. 

12. Concentrated lye, one pound ; water, two gallons. Same as 
above, except that the tree was still more thoroughly ruined by scale, 
and at this date has not recovered ; but little new wood ; what there 
is, however, being healthy. 

No. 13. Concentrated lye, one pound; water, three gallons. This 
tree had been washed by spraying, April 1, 1881, with this strength of 
lye, which proved too weak to destroy the scale. July 23, 1881 — 
Young scale insects covered the tree; the tree was left to itself with 
that washing. April 25, 1882 — Observed that the scale was abundant 
and fast accomplishing the destruction of the tree. October 14, 1882 — 
The tree is dead to within one foot of the ground, but from the collar 
many new sprouts have grown. 

No. 14. Concentrated lye, one pound; water, five gallons. June 
23, 1881 — Applied to two trees, one slightly and the other badly 
infested with scale. This wash was used by pouring it upon the 
trunk of the trees, and allowing it to run down and soak into the 
ground; the tops of the trees were not touched. This experiment 
was made, as it had been publicly stated that this weak lye used in 
this manner was an effectual remedy. July 2, 1881 — No effect pro- 
duced upon the scale where not reached by the lye. August 2, 1881 — 
No effect other than noticed above; scale only injured where touched 
by the lye, and second brood of young scale insects crawling all over 
the tops of the trees. April 25, 1882 — Trunk quite clean and healthy, 
but the top full of scale insects of the last season alive and approach- 
ing maturity. October 14, 1882 — Tree covered with scale, old and 
young; the trunk, however, where washed, appearing far more free 
than the upper portion; the bark where washed is healthy. 

Use of Kerosene. — In the following experiments with kerosene, the 
action of that agent was reported as it then appeared at the date of 
report, but the subsequent effects, which will now be stated, show 
how important it is to allow ample time to elapse before coming to a 
conclusion upon the merits or demerits of a particular proposed rem- 
edy. The use of coal oil when the tree is full of sap is plainly shown 
to be unallowable. These will be detailed as they appeared at the 
time, and also as seen this season: 

No. 15. Kerosene, low grade and heavy, 110 test. June 1, 1881 — 
Applied to two pear trees, spraying, with coarse spray used and oil 
thrown over the entire trees. June 27, 1881 — Observed that the foli- 
age had been killed and the trees considerably affected; scale killed. 
July 2, 1881 — New leaf buds coming out. July 23, 1881 — New foliage 
all over the trees, and seemingly new vigor throughout; new shoots 
six inches long ; no scale to be found, and the green layer of the bark 
healthy to all appearance. August 2 — Foliage increasing rapidly 
all over the trees, and, apparently, the trees were gaining in health. 
Thus they appeared up to August, 188 L. The observation of these 
trees on April 25, 1882, showed a very different state ; the trees were 
dead. 

No. 16. Kerosene, high grade, 150 test. June 1, 1881 — Applied by 
spray upon two pear trees. June 27, 1881 — Observed that the foliage 
had not been killed, but that the scale had all been destroyed ; the 
trees apparently uninjured. July 2 — New leaf buds coming forth. 
August 2, 1881 — Trees appeared healthy; foliage uninjured; scale 
showing no signs of its presence, and the fruit showing less effects 



77 

from scale on account of the wash it had received. April 25, 1882 — 
Trees were dead. 

No. 17. Kerosene, high grade Diamond brand, 150 test. July 27, 
1881 — Applied upon two pear trees with a coarse heavy spray over 
entire trees; trees very badly infested. August 2— Effectually 
destroyed the scale; the trees and foliage apparently entirely healthy. 
No perceptible effect upon the trees, but completely drying up the 
scales, so that they are blown away by the wind. The fruit is not 
affected by the kerosene, but the scale upon it is killed, and the 
fruit is very clean. It is observed that kerosene of 150 test evapo- 
rates rapidly, and leaves but little signs of having been applied. 
April 25, 1882 — One tree dead ; the other not dead, but nearly so. 
October 14, 1882 — Examination showed trees to be dead. 

No. 18. Kerosene, same brand, July 27, 1881 — Applied upon a 
pear tree by spray atomizer, which produced a very fine mist only. 
August 2, 1881 — The same effects produced as in No. 17; scale 
appeared to be entirely destroyed; no apparent effect upon tree or 
foliage. April 25, 1882 — Tree not dead, but with many scales upon it. 
October 14, 1882 — Old wood dead, but new wood from near the 
ground. 

No. 19. Gasoline. July 27, 1881 — Applied upon pear tree by heavy 
syringe spray thoroughly over the tree and foliage. August 2, 1881 — 
Not effectual in destroying the scale; too volatile; many of the 
insects killed but a large proportion unaffected; no apparent effect 
upon the tree or foliage at that time; on this tree, the young male 
scales, just hatched out, were found crawling about. April 25, 18S2 — 
The tree has been almost killed by the scale infesting it. October 
14, 1882 — Tree still alive, with some scale upon it. 

No. 20. Gasoline. Jul} 7 27, 1881 — Applied upon pear tree by the 
spray atomizer. August 2 — Results same as the preceding. October 
14, 1882 — This tree did not suffer from the effects of the application, 
but this season has made a vigorous growth of new Avood quite clean 
from scale. The foregoing applications of kerosene and gasoline 
were made in full strength. 

No. 21. Whale oil soap and sulphur mixture, one pound ; water, 
one gallon. June 23, 1881 — Applied by spray over pear tree, cover- 
ing foliage and fruit thoroughly. July 23 — Scale killed ; tree gaining 
in health, green layer of bark being restored; fruit greatly improved 
in appearance. August 2, 1881 — Tree still improving, also fruit. 
April 28, 1882 — Tree very healthy and appears clean from scale; 
green layer of bark being fully restored, and parts of the tree that 
were nearly killed by the scale are forming new bark rapidly ; the 
tree has a very fine top of new growth. October 14, 1882 — The tree 
has grown very thriftily through the season, and the wood is all very 
healthy; some scale are found upon the tree, however. These trees 
are in an orchard badly infested, and it is to be expected that the 
insects will return. This wash is an effectual Summer wash, and 
where there is any scale present should be used in the strength here 
given, as a wash of one half the strength has proven ineffectual. 

No. 22. Soft soap, one pound ; sulphur, one pound; tobacco, one 
pound; water, three gallons. July 5, 1881 — Applied upon two trees 
by spray, covering trees, foliage, and fruit, thoroughly. July 23, 
1881 — Seemed quite effectual at the time; many scale destroyed, but 
not all; trees not affected by the wash; fruit improved in appear- 
ance. Subsequent observations, however, showed that but little Mas 



78 

accomplished in destroying the scale. October 14, 1882 — This tree 
shows an abundance of live scale in all stages of growth. This wash 
was used with good effect in another orchard, June 1, 1881, on a 
Fellenberg prune tree, clearing it from scale, which, up to this time, 
have not returned. 

No. 23. Soft soap, one pound ; sulphur, one pound ; water, three 
gallons. 

No. 24. Soft soap, one pound ; water, three gallons. The two 
washes named above were applied June 23, 1881, and with no effect, 
neither has it shown any result this season. 

No. 25. Whale oil, one pint; kerosene, one pint; borax, one 
ounce; water, one gallon. June 23, 1881 — Applied by spray to a pear 
tree. At the different dates in 1881, when the effect has been 
observed, it has been apparent that the oil is decidedly injurious to 
the tree, applied in this manner or at this time; it is therefore not 
recommended. Applied to another tree in one fifth the strength 
above given, it has no effect upon either scale or tree. April 25, 
1882 — The tree first treated is nearly dead, but, however, having the 
top cut off, new wood is coming along; scale appears to be destroyed. 
October 14, 1882 — The old wood is dead ; the sickly growth of new 
wood springing out from the lower portion of the tree shows some 
scale. 

No. 26. Carbolic acid, three ounces; water, two gallons. June 23, 
1881 — Applied by spray upon a pear tree badly infested with scale. 
June 27, 1881 — Failed entirely. This tree afforded a constant suc- 
cession of insects in all stages of development, both male and female. 
From it some of our most interesting studies were made; we report 
it as it appeared at each visit. On that date (June 27, 1881) we found 
the male insect under its scale partially developed, with wing pads, 
but wings not yet out. July 2 — Found plenty of winged males of 
the second brood flying and crawling about. July 23 — Tree was cov- 
ered with young female scale insects of the second brood crawling, 
and with a few of them just located and commencing to be covered 
with their scale. July 25 — A few of the winged male still found; 
bark scraped clean on this date was in two days covered with young 
scale insects, and with a slight formation of scale over them. August 
2 — Tree entirely covered with young scale on this date ; two or three 
winged males were found. April 25, 1882 — Tree almost dead from 
effects of scale; top dead and removed, and a few feeble shoots com- 
ing forth. October 14, 1882 — Shoots have grown from the trunk of 
the tree to some extent, but the whole having been so seriously 
affected, the tree is considered worthless. 

The entire orchard in which these trees are situated, other than 
the ones experimented on — from eight to twenty-six — were washed 
this past Winter with a very low grade of coal oil called "tree wash ;" 
the result is not satisfactory; the owner tells me (October 14, 1882) 
that he is satisfied that the oil has seriously injured his trees. 

EXPERIMENTS WITH STEAM. 

It was at one time thought that steam might be effectually applied 
for the extermination of insect pest upon trees. In the Summer of 
1881 a test of this agent was made in an orchard near San Jose. A 
large tent was made to hang upon a frame, which could be run on 
either side of and overhanging the tree ; the tent then being dropped, 



79 

the tree was entirely inclosed in an air-tight bag, into which the steam 
and other ingredients were forced, and left to act upon the tree and 
insects as long as was thought necessary. 

Horticultural Commissioner D. C. Vestal and myself carefully 
noted the experiments made, and placed the results upon record. 
These experiments are also numbered for convenience in describing. 

No. 1. September 8, 1881 — An apple tree infested with scale insect, 
woolly aphis, and other pests, was covered by the tent, under which 
was hung upon the tree cloths saturated with bisulphide carbon, one 
half pound. It was thus left for three fourths of an hour, and then 
the tent was removed. Result, apparently of no effect. The woolly 
aphis was not injured, but found crawling about. The red spider 
was found crawling about; also a small caterpillar was observed 
unharmed. The scale insects were not affected in any way, so far as 
could be observed. September 12, 1881 — Examination made on this 
date showed that no effect had been made by the application upon 
any of the insects mentioned as infesting this tree. Mr. J. H. 
Wheeler, the maker of the bisulphide carbon, thought that the 
agent had not been properly brought into contact with the insects, 
and for that reason failed to destroy them. 

No. 2. A pear tree was treated with steam forced under the tent 
covering the tree. The temperature was raised to 165°, and main- 
tained for ten minutes. Observations immediately afterwards showed 
that the foliage of the tree, and the young wood of the tree, were 
destroyed. Everything was cooked thoroughly. September twelfth, 
the tree and the scale were both killed. 

No. 3. An apple tree was treated in the same manner, with steam 
at 140°, for three minutes, and afterwards with sulphur fumes (caused 
by putting two handfuls of sulphur upon live coals) for five minutes. 
The result showed that the tree did not appear quite so much injured 
at this time as the preceding tree at first showed, but as seen on Sep- 
tember twelfth the effect w T as the same. The scale was killed, and 
also the entire tree, except the oldest part of the trunk. 

No. 4. Apple tree steamed for five minutes at 140° ; dried for five 
minutes, and then fumed with sulphur for five minutes. Result the 
same as the preceding. 

No. 5. Apple tree moderately covered with scale and woolly aphis. 
Steam applied with wmich had previously been mixed three gallons 
of kerosene, pumped into the boiler of a thrashing engine. This 
application was made at 110° and maintained for four minutes. 
September 12— No effect was perceptible upon the tree, except that 
the foliage was somewhat injured. The scale insect was not killed or 
even injured. The woolly aphis was found alive and uninjured. 

No. 6. Steam and coal oil applied four minutes at 140°. Septem- 
ber 12 — Tree pretty nearly killed. Only the oldest wood alive — all 
new wood and buds killed. 

No. 7. Steam and coal oil for six minutes at 130° ; No. 8, same 
for six minutes at 150° ; No. 9, same for twelve minutes at 120° to 
130°. This tree was steamed four minutes, and then, after an inter- 
val of six minutes, was steamed two minutes more. September 12 — 
The result upon these trees was the same. The trees were all 
destroyed excepting the trunk and oldest wood. 

From these experiments it will be seen that steam cannot be 
applied in such manner and at a temperature sufficiently high to 
destroy the insects wuthout, at the same time, destroying the tree. 



80 

During the season of 1881 strong efforts were made to introduce 
the use of various patent mixtures, which were claimed to have 
great merit in destroying the scale insect. One of these was to he 
used by simply spreading it on the trunk of the tree, which applica- 
tion it was stated would, through the poisoning of the sap, kill the 
insects. This, as well as others of a like nature, were given careful 
consideration and tested, and resulted in entire failure. 

Another method, which was persistently forced upon the public, was 
that of boring into the trunk of the tree to the center, and filling the 
auger hole with the so called cure. A careful investigation of many 
trees so treated was made by Mr. Matthew Cooke, Mr. D. C. Vestal, 
and myself, for the purpose of determining the actual effects, if any, 
of this treatment. October 17, 1881, we visited the orchard of one 
person who had allowed his name to be used in recommending this 
exterminator, and first examined two pear trees bored and the holes 
filled with the preparation. These trees were found to be covered 
with live scale insects in all stages of development, and showing no 
signs of injury. The young female insects were found crawling about 
the trees in great numbers. The wood, the season's growth, was 
covered with scale. An apple tree, the trunk and large limbs of 
which had been washed the previous Winter with strong lye, showed 
that the scale, which completely covered it when the lye was applied, 
were entirely destroyed where the wash had reached, but on the 
smaller wood, which had not been washed with the lye, the scale was 
found alive. This tree had also been bored and treated with the 
application referred to, and which had no effect whatever. On the 
trunk of this tree, where the lye had been applied, the green layer 
of bark was found replacing the old, which had nearly been destroyed 
by the scale. 

At another place we examined a pear tree which had been bored 
and treated with this preparation. This tree was in no manner 
whatever affected by this so called remedy, but was completely cov- 
ered with scale insects in every stage. We found the young females 
crawling about, and on this tree was found the male scale in the first 
pupa stage of development for the third winged brood, and also on 
this tree was discovered the perfect winged male of the third brood. 
In no case has the slightest good resulted from these secret and 
patented preparations. We have treated this subject thus fully, 
because, to our knowledge, prominent and careful horticulturists 
have been induced to purchase these things at an exorbitant charge. 
The treatment of trees by crude petroleum and its different pro- 
ducts has been thoroughly tried in this vicinity, and, it must be 
confessed, with conflicting results. Some still claim that coal oil is 
efficacious, and if properly used, safe; but the advocates of this prac- 
tice are very few now, although at one time, orchardists were pretty 
evenly divided in the use of coal oil on the one hand, and that of 
concentrated lye on the other. The treatment of orchards by crude 
petroleum was commenced in 1879-80, but was not extensively tried 
until 1880-81. Many orchards were then drenched with crude 
petroleum, greatly to the regret of the users. The following season 
the advocates of coal oil abandoned the use of the crude, and applied 
a partially refined product which is little better. This is called " tree 
wash," and was used this past season very extensively. 

This whole subject may be treated as with one agent. Many 
orchards have been visited where this treatment has been adopted, 



81 

and where the result has been disastrous. One prominent orchardist 
used the "tree wash" upon about twenty acres of all varieties of trees, 
and has lost almost the entire number. A great part of the dead 
trees have this season been dug out. Another used this wash upon 
sixty fine cherry trees, ten years old, killing them all. Another, 
adjoining the last named, washed with the same, and killed one hun- 
dred and twenty-five choice cherry trees. Another had used crude 
petroleum, with the result of killing all his trees except apples and 
pears, which partially rallied and put forth a sickly new growth. 
These results can be substantiated by man}' other orchardists who 
have met with a greater or less degree of loss from the use of oil, and 
almost every person who has been in favor of using coal oil has 
abandoned its advocacy. Indeed, I now know of but one orchard 
where it is the intention to apply it again. This one, from some 
cause, appears not to have suffered from its use, and a visit to this 
orchard on the fourteenth of October showed a very large and fine 
crop of apples being gathered which were almost free from scale. 
This orchard, belonging to father and son — the Messrs. L. — has been 
washed in the following manner: In 1879-80 some trees were treated 
with kerosene of 150 test. In 1880-81 crude petroleum was applied 
to the trees of the entire orchard. These were principally apple 
trees, numbering about six hundred, although there were trees of 
ever} 7 other variety. In 1881-82 the tree wash was applied to the 
same trees and in the same manner. As stated, this orchard is almost 
free from scale, and the trees appear healthy. The Messrs. L. attribute 
their success with coal oil to the following means of procedure. It is 
applied in the middle of the Winter, or before the sap begins to flow. 
It is applied in the finest possible spray, and is not allowed to touch 
any part but once. The work is done when there is no wind, and 
when there is no moisture upon the tree. All this evidence leads to 
the conclusion that the products of petroleum are most hazardous to 
the life of the tree, and while one or two may not experience the loss 
of their orchards, the hundreds of others would destroy their trees. 
Therefore, with all this added experience before me, I most emphat- 
ically condemn the use of petroleum or refined coal oil of any grade 
for the purpose of an insecticide. 

The effect of coal oil upon trees of all varieties of stone fruits is 
particularly disastrous, being less upon apples and pears. I now 
again refer to the use of concentrated lye, which, as before seen in 
this report, has been of such signal service, and which I consider to 
be the specific, or at least so far as we now know, the best means of 
destroying the scale insects of deciduous trees. In the ease under 
consideration where the Aspidiotus pemitiosus is involved, no other 
application will do the work as well, as a Winter remedy which can 
be used when the tree is denuded of foliage and when the tree is 
dormant. The lye, while causing little if any harm, but on the 
other hand in most cases positive benefit to the tree, is, where used 
with care and in the proper strength, an effectual remedy. The only 
other remedy which can be recommended is the whale oil soup and 
sulphur mixture (codlin moth washi, which is applicable as a Sum- 
mer wash particularly. 

A few prominent examples of the employment of lye on a largo 
scale will be given to show its usefulness and success. Greal results 
had been obtained by the application of concentrated lye, but the 
11 ' 



82 

definite strength in which it should be used was only determined in 
the season of 1881, consequently the past Winter preparations were 
made for applying it on a large scale to entire orchards. In the early 
part of this paper reference was made to the losses of one orchardist, 
Mr. T., as an instance to illustrate the condition of many orchards 
in this vicinity. The orchard was visited a few days since (October 
14, 1882), and a vast improvement noted in the health and appear- 
ance of the trees, which had by careful treatment been made to sur- 
vive the devastating effects of the scale. 

As was before stated, many of the trees destroyed had been dug 
out. These were particularly apple trees. Some, however, had sur- 
vived, though badly injured. These being heavily cut back had put 
forth a new growth, which is this year most satisfactory. The pear 
and plum trees, especially, have shown the good effects of treatment, 
and are now vigorous and on the way to great fruitfulness. Owing 
to the fruit spurs and all small wood of the pears being killed by the 
scale two years ago, there could be but little fruit this year, but from 
the fine thrifty growth on these trees a large crop of fine fruit is 
promised for the coming season. The plum trees, of which there is 
a large number, have made a fine recovery from the effects of the 
scale, and yielded this year a valuable crop of fruit, obtaining of 
French prunes at the rate of eight tons to the acre of fresh fruit. The 
total yield of fruit this season exceeded in value that of the last by a 
large percentage. The fruit has been of fine quality and very clean. 
At least 90 per cent of the total yield has been entirely free from 
scale, and of the 10 per cent remaining none of that was as bad as 
the fruit of the entire crop of last season. The coming season he 
expects to have a very large crop of fine and perfectly clean fruit. 
Mr. T. has used both oil and concentrated lye on his trees, not, how- 
ever, together, but separately. He says he shall not use oil again, as 
he is satisfied that it injures his trees. Lye has given him his fine 
results. It has been used in the strength of about one pound to two 
and a half gallons water, but in this strength it has required a longer 
time and a larger number of applications to destroy the scale. 
Although some scale is still to be found there, the orchard is nearly 
cleaned of the pest. It is intended to use lye and the caustic soda 
the coming Winter. 

Another extensive orchard near to the above, belonging to Mr. 
R., has been thoroughly treated by concentrated lye. This orchard 
of thirty acres, in which are 5,000 trees, has been one of the worst 
infested by scale. Last Winter the entire orchard was drenched 
by lye, applied by fine spray in the strength of one pound to one gal- 
lon water, and one pound three ounces to one gallon water — some 
few trees with even a stronger solution. This application was made 
from December, 1881, to February, 1882. A visit made on April 
twenty-fifth last, showed the scale to be pretty thoroughly destroyed. 
The trees, at this date, were in a most vigorous and healthy condi- 
tion, with beautiful green foliage, and hanging full of fruit, well set 
in all varieties, far enough advanced at the time. Other trees were 
in full blossom at that time. On October sixteenth I again visited 
this orchard, to ascertain the season's results, and found it had 
borne out the estimate made of it in April last. The growth of wood 
has been very fine and healthy. The crop of fruit has been good 
this season, and has been almost entirely clean. The cherries were 
entirely so. The plums and prunes, of which there was an immense 



83 

crop on about 1,200 trees, were also wholly free from scale. Also, the 
pears and apples were, most of them, dear of scale, though a few 
were slightly infested. Some scale remains in this orchard, but so 
little compared to last season that, although the quantity of fruit 
was about the same, the quality was far superior, and therefore in 
value far greater. A portion of the pear trees, which still showed 
some few scattering scale, were washed in September with a solution 
of lye, showing four degrees by the lyeometer, in which was mixed 
sulphur, as much as could be forced through a coarse nozzle, and 
whale oil soap in small quantity. This has apparently cleared away 
the few scale that were present. It is intended to wash with lye the 
coming Winter, in the same manner as last, wherever it may be 
required. 

Another prominent example of the use of lye is that upon the 
orchard of Mr. G., in the celebrated fruit growing locality known 
as the Willows, San Jose. This orchard is chiefly devoted to the 
culture of the cherry, and is one of the best known in the State for 
that product. There are also a few hundred French prune trees. 
All of these trees, both cherry and prune, range in age up to fifteen 
years. Two years ago the Aspidiotus perniciosus appeared on the 
white cherries, nearly destroying a number of trees. In the W T inter 
of 1880-81 the trees were washed with concentrated lye, one pound 
to five gallons of water. It resulted in some good, but did not kill 
many insects. In January, 1882, with the exception of one tree men- 
tioned further along, the entire orchard was washed with concen- 
trated lye, one pound to one gallon of water. All varieties of trees 
subject to scale were washed twice — the applications being made two 
weeks apart. The method employed was by heavy spray continued 
upon the tree from five to twenty minutes for each tree. The fluid 
dripped from the tree upon a table arranged under it, and thus 
saving the material from waste. October fourteenth I examined 
this orchard. On the cherry trees all of the scale has been destroyed 
upon almost the whole of the trees washed. On a few trees, how- 
ever, there are at this time a few scale to be found, bred from some 
not reached by the wash. The effect upon the cherry trees was not 
injurious, except that a few fruit spurs were killed. The trees this 
year bore a Very fine crop of fruit, wholly free from scale. Not a 
single specimen of scale could be found upon any of the fruit, as a 
careful inspection was made of it for that purpose. The effect upon 
the prune trees was a little greater, killing a larger number of fruit 
spurs. This is partly attributed to the state of the atmosphere, as it 
was warm and dry when these were washed. Not a scale insect can 
now be found upon any of these trees, although very large trees and 
very badly infested with scale. Mr. G. intends to wash his trees the 
coming Winter with lye in the strength of one pound to two gallons 
of water, using also the table as before. The saving caused by this 
was at least two thirds of the material. 

THE DRAIN TABLE. 

The table is made of sheet and zinc, fixed upon a frame in halves, 
which are placed against the trunk of the tree on either side, thus 
forming a circular basin fourteen feet in diameter, and requiring but 
one minute for transfer from one tree to another. 



84 

AN INSULATED TREE ATTACKED. 

The tree mentioned as not being washed was a Cleveland Bigar- 
reau cherry, standing in the orchard one hundred yards from any 
tree infested, being surrounded by the Black Tartarian trees, which 
are never infested. This tree last Winter, at the time of washing the 
orchard, had no scale upon it. Now, however (October fourteenth), 
I find this tree covered with scale already matured, as well as many 
young crawling about upon it. This is an interesting observation, 
as it shows the rapidity with which a tree may become covered with 
this pest, and also that the scale will single out and colonize itself 
upon trees to its taste. In this orchard no cherry of the black vari- 
ties has been infested. The Black Tartarian, the Black Bigarreau, 
Knight's Early Black, the Black Eagle, and the Early Purple Guigne, 
are none of them troubled ; and neither has the Belle d'Orleans 
shown any insects. The white varieties of cherries are among the 
worst infested trees we have. 

CAUSTIC SODA. 

Some orchards have also been washed with the English caustic 
soda. One stated to me that he had used it upon his entire orchard 
of all varieties of trees, mostly, however, Newtown Pippin apples, in 
the strength of ten degrees by the lyeometer. It was not used in this 
case for the purpose of destroying scale, for the orchard was free 
from it, excepting some of the Aspidiotus conchiformis, which it 
destroyed. The object was to clean the trees of moss, and also to 
kill the red spider. The trees were cleaned, and a large porporlion 
of the red spider eggs killed, but not all by any means. This caustic 
soda is obtained in large drums of six hundred pounds, and is some- 
what cheaper than the concentrated lye, which fact may cause its 
more frequent use hereafter. Many other instances might be cited 
to show the efficacy of lye as an insecticide, but sufficient facts are 
stated. 

HOW THE INSECTS ARE SPREAD. 

Attention must be called to the means of spreading this serious 
pest, the Aspidiotus pemiciosus. The system of "return boxes," and 
packages of any character, is known to be pernicious and a fruitful 
source of the spread of all kinds of noxious insects, which, either as 
insects, eggs, or larva?, are fastened to them and taken into the orchard, 
to be developed in due time, and then to spread devastation to every- 
thing attacked. Indeed, to me, so obnoxious is the return box, that 
I will not permit one to be brought into the orchard or on the prem- 
ises. I prefer to pay the cost of new boxes, and give them with the 
fruit sold. As the female insect has no wings, she can, of course, 
only be spread about by becoming attached to something by which 
she is carried to different localities, and by crawling about during 
the short period after hatching, before becoming fixed for life. 

Birds will carry them most frequently about an orchard, and it is 
thought that one source of danger is little regarded, viz.: carrying 
them about on one's clothing by brushing against infested trees. 

If boxes or packages are returned, they should be disinfected as 
soon as received, by dipping in boiling water, to which is added not 
less than one pound of potash to twenty-five gallons of the water used. 



85 

The nursery trees sent over the State have been the means of 
spreading the scale extensively, and while nurserymen are anxious 
to make sale of their trees, they must take every precaution to see 
that their patrons do not suffer, by neglect to first destroy the scale, 
which may be done by dipping the trees in a solution of concentrated 
lye of one pound to two gallons of water. I am glad to say that most 
nurserymen are desirous to do all in their power to destroy the scale. 

Among other means of preventing the spread of scale, thorough 
and constant cultivation of an orchard should be kept up. One 
prominent difficulty in the way of eradicating the scale I believe to 
be the practice so prevalent of growing other small crops in the 
orchard between the trees. 

It cannot be too strongly impressed upon the mind of every owner 
of an orchard that he must personally watch his orchard and exer- 
cise such constant supervision that no infested tree shall escape 
observation, and, when found, the proper remedy at once be applied. 
In the orchard referred to where chance trees have been found 
infested, no other course would have saved me from the overwhelm- 
ing spread of the scale. 

The experiments of 1881 and the subsequent use of lye in instances 
mentioned, indicate the remedy. This should always be used when 
the tree is dormant, and when the foliage has disappeared from the 
trees. In our climate that time is the Winter, and at any time before 
the trees put forth their buds. 

APPLYING THE LYE. 

The strength of lye should be one pound to one gallon of water, 
where trees are infested with scale. Where it is only desired to 
cleanse the tree from moss, one pound to three or four gallons of 
water is sufficient. The best method of applying the concentrated 
lye is by dissolving in boiling water, and throwing it upon the trees 
with a force pump through forty or fifty feet of one halt-inch rubber 
hose, to w T hich is attached a nozzle, having for its opening a simple 
straight slit, very narrow in width, and one sixteenth to one eighth 
of an inch long. The best spray tip yet devised is that made at San 
Jose, called the Merigot Spray Nozzle. The pumps most used for 
this purpose are the Gould pump and the Merigot pump. The latter 
is made at San Jose, and is cheaper than the Gould pump. Great 
care should be taken to cover the tree entirely with the solution of 
lye, as upon its thorough application depends its success. _ 

One of the greatest difficulties in the use of strong materials is from 
the spray falling upon the person of the operator, and burning and 
injuring the skin. In order to overcome this obstacle, I have devised 
a simple "extension nozzle" of slight cost, which is very light, and 
which may be made of any length desired, say from four to fifteen 
feet, or even longer. By the use of this extension, it is perfectly easy 
to reach and spray any orchard tree without danger and discomfort. 
The cost of materials and apparatus may be given as follows: The 
Gould pump costs about sixteen dollars, without accessories; the 
Merigot pump, twelve dollars. The suction hose and the long hose 
will cost, according to quality used, from fifteen to twenty-five cents 
per foot. 

The Merigot spray tip, if purchased alone, $1 50. If bought with 
pump, the pump and spray, $13. The bamboo extension with globe 



86 

valve seven feet long, $2 75. All excess in length over seven feet, 
twenty-five cents per foot. The concentrated lye, of the American 
Lye Company, in one pound cans by the case of forty-eight pounds, 
$3 50 per case. English caustic soda in 600 pound drums, $33 to $35 
per drum. The whale oil soap and sulphur mixture called the 
"Codlin Moth Wash," is manufactured in San Francisco, and the 
price can be ascertained by inquiring of Messrs. Allyne & White, 112 
Front Street. 

In conclusion, I will give the analysis made by Prof. Hilgard, of 
the State University, of a sample can of American Lye Company 
concentrated lye. The can sent I took from a lot I had been using, 
and is supposed to be a fair sample of the manufacture. The analysis 
is as follows : 

Caustic potash 8.3 

Caustic soda and some carbonate of soda 91.7 

100.0 

With this I submit my report, expressing my firm conviction that 
ere long we shall be freed from the ravages of one of the most dreaded 
pests known to horticulturists. 



APPENDIX TO DR. CHAPIN'S REPORT. 

[The following is an Appendix to the report of Dr. Chapin on the Scale Insects, which was 
published in the Rural of Oct. 28, and Nov. 4, 1882.] 

I take the opportunity to add in this Appendix several important 
matters which have been ascertained since the first printing of this 
report. In regard to the Lecanium olese, mentioned as so seriously 
infesting an orchard of deciduous fruit trees, I have just visited that 
orchard, and now cannot find even a specimen of the scale of the 
present season. The trees were all washed the past Winter with con- 
centrated lye — one pound to one gallon of water — and with the 
result of completely destroying this scale. The strength of the lye, 
however, destroyed part of the fruit buds on the French prune trees, 
lessening the crop for this season, but that obtained being of the first 
quality. The Aspidiotus pemiciosus has lately been found infesting 
the blackberry bushes, in company with the white scale, Diaspis 
Rosse, which has long troubled the blackberry and raspberry. I 
have also just discovered its presence upon rose bushes, which it has 
killed, as it does everything it attacks. At the same place it was also 
found infesting the Japan quince, fruit and branch. Thus it is seen 
that our ornamental shrubs are almost all liable to its attacks. 

The Icerya scale has within the past few months been spreading 
to localities which were last year free from its presence. One of the 
most serious matters concerning it has just come to my knowledge. 
The following communication from Mr. A. Kamp, sexton of Oak 
Hill Cemetery, was read at the last meeting (November tenth) of the 
San Jose Common Council : 

Whereas, A certain scale insect, known as the "cottony cushion scale" (Dorthesia or Icerya 
purchasi), having attacked certain trees and plants in Oak Hill Cemetery, and are threatening, 
with certainty, the destruction of every tree and plant therein; now, therefore, being in doubt 
as to my authority in entering the lot of any one and removing infected trees without their 
permission; and whereas, each deed bears upon its face a condition subjecting it to such rules 
and regulations as may be adopted from time to time by the Mayor and Common Council for 
the better government of said cemetery, I now, therefore, do petition and ask your honorable 
body to pass an ordinance authorizing the sexton, on the approval of the Cemetery Committee, 
to remove all infected trees in Oak Hill Cemetery. 



87 

To ascertain the condition of this beautiful city of the dead, I 
visited it, and by the kindness of Mr. Kamp, was shown the work 
which has been done by this pest. It is fast taking possession of 
almost every variety of ornamental tree and shrub there, as well as 
invading the domain of the floriculturist. The scale is so abundant 
in places that it covers almost entire many trees and bushes, and can 
be seen continuously dropping down to the ground, and the young 
and partially grown ones literally covering the fences like patches of 
red paint, and also lying upon the ground in masses of thousands 
upon thousands, so thick and so deep in places of several inches 
square that the ground cannot be seen. In a short walk around the 
cemetery Mr. Kamp collected for me to bring to the Fruit Growers' 
Convention the following infested specimens, all of which are in the 
exhibition hall for the inspection of horticulturists and the public. 
These comprise some deciduous fruit trees, many evergreen trees, 
shrubs and vines, flowers, etc. Pear trees, apple trees, the forest trees, 
the white oak, Quercus alba, and the California laurel ; the English 
laurel, Laurus cerasus; the beautiful shade trees, the black locust, 
and the cork elm; the different varieties of acacias; magnolia, grandi- 
flora, dwarf flowering almond, wild greasewood, bridal wreath, rose 
bushes of various kinds (though it is here to be noted that the Bank- 
sia rose, which was among the infested varieties was not at all 
troubled), the dwarf box, pittisporum, tobria, English ivy, clematis, 
verbena, veronica, variegated sage, and strawberry plants. Also, 
specimens of the oleander, which were completely covered with the 
black scale, Lecanium olese. Many more varieties might have been 
secured, but these will indicate that almost everything is subject to 
the attack of the Icerya. There is, however, one of our most beauti- 
ful trees that is free from all scale pests, viz. : the pepper tree. The 
danger of visitors to our cemetery carrying away this scale to their 
homes is of the gravest character. 

DAMAGE FROM COAL OIL. 

The application of coal oil shows such peculiar results upon trees 
that the danger attending its use is daily becoming more and more 
apparent. I have just visited an orchard belonging to Mr. P., who, 
in the latter part of December, 1881, washed one hundred and sixty 
Newtown Pippin apple trees, ten years old, with the coal oil branded 
"tree wash." These trees were not harmed, although the scale was 
killed. On the same day the pippins were finished, he washed thirty- 
four White Winter Pearmain trees, standing beside the others, from 
the same barrel and in precisely the same manner; the same person 
also doing the work. The result was, that all the pearmain trees 
were killed. On an adjoining place men were washing with the 
same " tree wash" at that time. In this case many pippin trees 
were badly injured and some killed, while the pearinains were not 
apparently harmed. Here were shown exactly opposite results on 
adjoining properties. With these uncertainties attending the appli- 
cation of a particular agent, it is best to abandon it altogether. 

DISINFECTING PEACH ROOTS. 

With the use of lye there is not such danger existing. I have been 
many times asked the question, " Can concentrated lye be used on 



the roots of trees without injury?" I think this can now be safety 
answered with regard to peach roots, at least, and anything on that 
stock. In February, 1882, Mr. H. C. Morrell, of Wright's, Santa Cruz 
Mountains, purchased two hundred and thirteen Solway peach trees 
from a lot brought from the East. They being poor trees, he feared 
some disease attended them, and he decided to wash them entire. 
Before planting he dipped the trees entire, root and top, in concen- 
trated lye, one pound to one gallon water. He tells me, on Novem- 
ber 9, that the trees have all lived, except two, which perished from 
other causes. The trees are healthy, and have made the same growth 
that his other trees have done At my request he will dig up one of 
those trees and bring it to the Convention for the inspection of the 
members. 

An excellent method of dissolving concentrated lye in cold water 
is by placing the finely broken up lye in a wire basket, and suspend- 
ing it in cold water near the surface. The lye will readily dissolve, 
and, by its greater specific gravity, saturate the bottom first, gradually 
reaching the top. In this way 300 pounds may be dissolved in 100 
gallons of cold water in from twelve to fifteen hours. The great 
object here gained is the saving of fuel and labor. 

Further inquiries relating to caustic soda have enabled me to state 
that it will be used to a considerable extent this coming Winter. It 
can be supplied in drums of 600 pounds, Runcorn Alkali Company 
brand, for four cents per pound. Caustic potash can be obtained in 
like drums of 300 pounds for six and one half cents per pound. The 
analysis showing the relative quantities of each of these articles in 
concentrated lye enables orchardists to mix to suit themselves. At 
the cost of each given alone, 90 per cent of soda and 10 per cent of 
potash would give, at the strength of one pound to one gallon water, 
four and one half cents per pound or gallon. Probably no effectual 
wash could be made any cheaper than this. To save weighing or 
"aeasuring, the lyeometer, or tye tester, is used. This may be pur- 
chased for seventy-five cents. By dissolving one pound of the lye in 
one gallon of water the degree marked on the lyeometer will show 
the density of the fluid, and in future preparations it may be made 
to suit. An illustration of relative strengths and combinations of 
these salts is shown in the exhibition hall. The degrees shown by 
the lyeometer are as follows, each in the strength one pound to one 
gallon water: 

Settled. Agitated. 

1. Concentrated lye, American hye Company 13° .16° 

2. Caustic soda __" . 15° 16° 

3. Caustic potash 11° 12° 

4. Caustic soda, 90 per cent 22f° 26° 

5. Caustic potash, 10 per cent 22£° 26° 

6. Pure water 

It is very important that a proper selection of caustic soda be 
made, as many cheap brands do not possess caustic properties, but 
are worthless salts with acids. The brand of A. G. Kurtz is good, 
and can be furnished for four and one quarter cents per pound. A 
more costly article, and the purest, being also of greater strength, is 
that made by Greenbanks. This is the best, and costs six cents per 
pound. I apprehend that the main difficulty with the cheap brands 
of concentrated lye is that they are made of worthless soda. We 
should be careful in our efforts always to secure a valuable article if 
we would succeed. 



89 



LATER NOTES ON THE WOOLLY APHIS. 



The year has given some valuable hints in regard to this pest. 
Some experimenters report failure in the use of alkaline applications 
about the roots of infested trees. In one case it is said that the aphides 
were found crawling up through a mixture of lime and ashes. On 
the other hand, from several parts of the State statements come in 
that lime has destroyed the pest. In one case, at least, quicklime 
was applied close to the tree, and upon the roots, without injury to 
the tree. A basin should be dug about the tree, a liberal supply of 
lime thrown in, and covered over with earth. If there are no facili- 
ties for irrigation, it is important that the application should be 
made in the Autumn, or early Winter, to insure a thorough soaking 
of the infested roots by the alkaline solution. 

There is also an accumulation of evidence to the effect that gas 
lime may be used with safety, in moderate quantities, on well drained 
soils. Professor Husmann used gas lime in the Simonton Vineyard, 
at the rate of one gallon on a surface eight feet square. It was 
intended as a partial insecticide against the phylloxera, as a manure, 
and to improve the tilth or mechanical condition of the soil. Pro- 
fessor Husmann reports a great increase in the vigor of the vines and 
in their crop of grapes. 

At the Rancho Chico gas lime was also used about apple trees. In 
all experiments due care should be had that the water containing the 
soluble parts of the gas lime may not stand long upon the roots of the 
tree or vine. Great service may be done to the public by those who 
will experiment carefully and report results to the Horticultural 
Commissioners, using lime, ashes, gas lime, niter, tobacco, carbon 
bisulphide, etc. 

C. H. DWINELLE. 

12' 



90 



REPORT OF A. S. WHITE 

COMMISSIONER FOR THE LOS ANGELES DISTRICT. 



Riverside, September 25, 1882. 
C. H. Dwinelle, Esq.: 

Dear Sir: Your postal at band. Mr. Cooke has so recently vis- 
ited every portion of this district that he is much better qualified to 
give the information that you desire than I am. Of this, however, 
you can rest assured, that everything is progressing as favorably as 
we can expect The trees in most of the infested districts are being 
rapidly cleaned, and nursery stock is not being shipped into districts 
not infested. I think public opinion has been educated up to the 
proper standard, and will sustain any just laws for the protection of 
our horticultural interests. The entire Press is with us. Am sorry 
I cannot attend at this meeting, but find it impossible to do so. 

Yours truly, 

ALBERT S. WHITE. 



91 



THE "SMUT" FUNGUS. 

[Fumago salieina.] 



Compiled by E. J. Wickson, Horticultural Commissioner for the State at Large. 



The prevalence of the Black Deposit on orange, lemon, olive, wal- 
nut, and other trees, in this State, makes timely a brief statement 
concerning the fungus which causes it, and the conditions under 
which it appears. Fortunately, the fungus has been carefully studied 
from California specimens, by Professor W. G. Farlow, of the Bussey 
Institution of Harvard University, who is one of the leading mycolo- 
gists of the United States. His writings are published in the Bulletin 
of the Bussey Institution for 1876 (Part V), but are not available for 
California readers; hence this attempt at a compilation therefrom, 
which shall contribute to a popular understanding of the subject. I 
shall also introduce a few observations concerning the occurrence of 
the fungus, from other sources. 

After a thorough study, Prof. Farlow determined that the fungus 
sent him from this State is identical with that which has been 
known in Europe since 1829, and which, occurring in different 
forms, had been given different names. These forms were, however, 
found to be various stages of growth of the same fungus, which is 
now known as Fumago salieina. It is reported as occurring in 
Europe on willows, oaks, birches, hawthorn, quince, and pear trees, 
and on oranges. In California it was first recorded as affecting the 
olive, and here also it may be seen on almond, walnut, California 
laurel, and other trees. Its presence on the orange and lemon trees 
in this State is, however, most obtrusive, because it gives the dense 
foliage of these trees a most sorry appearance, and because it covers 
the fruit, making it exceedingly ill-looking, and reduces its market 
value considerably. Retailers of these fruits resort to brushing, 
washing, and other means to remove the black coating, and growers 
in "smutty" localities are sometimes forced to cleanse the fruit to 
make it marketable. 

The fungus, Fumago salieina, does not enter into the substanc* of 
the leaf or young bark upon which it grows. For this reason it does 
not destroy the vegetation upon which it is parasitic, and it is there- 
fore unlike the "rust" on grain or the mildew on the rose or the 
grapevine, which do penetrate and destroy the tissues of the plant 
upon which they grow. Scraping or brushing- the "smut" from the 
leaves or fruit of infested trees show the surface of the leaf or the 
skin of the fruit uninjured. Thus the smut may exist without 
destroying the vitality of the tree, although it is quite sure that such 
a close covering as sometimes occurs must, to a greater or less 
extent, interfere with the functions of the leaves, and thus reduce 
the vigor of the tree. 



92 

When it is seen that the fungus does not draw its nourishment 
directly from the tree, it becomes an interesting matter to discover 
its means of livelihood. On this point, Professor Farlow says : 

The disease, although first attracting the eye by the presence of a black fungus, is not 
caused by it, but rather by the attack of some insect, which itself deposits some gummy sub- 
stance on the leaves and bark, or so wounds the tree as to cause a sticky exudation, on which 
the fungus especially thrives; * * * and in seeking a remedy, we are to look further back 
than the fungus itself — to the insect, or whatever it may be, which has made the luxuriant 
growth of the fungus possible. 

With these remarks, Professor Farlow commends the subject to the 
entomologists. 

The recommendation was accepted by Professor J. Henry Corn- 
stock, and the subject was made a study by him while in California 
in 1880. In his address before the California State Horticultural 
Society, September 24, 1880, he said : 

My own observations confirm the conclusions of Professor Farlow. In fact, before I read 
his paper, I had learned to consider the presence of fungus on the leaves as a sure indication of 
the presence of scale insects. And as I had never been able to find the fungus organically con- 
nected with the plants, but simply growing over the surface of them near the coceids, and easily 
removed by rubbing, I supposed that it grew upon the honey dew .which the insects excreted, 
and which so frequently attracts the visits of the ants. Professor Farlow suggests, as a means 
of destroying the fungus, the use of alkaline soaps as strong as the trees will bear. If our con- 
clusions respecting the fungus be true, this remedy will be found a very effectual one, for it will 
destroy the scale insects, which render its presence possible. 

It may be remarked farther, that experience during the last two 
years has proved, on a large scale, the truth of this observation, for 
the free use of whale oil soap and of concentrated lye, which has been 
made in the southern counties, has not only cleaned the trees of the 
scale insects, but has changed them from their vile smutted condition 
to the handsome green of clean foliage. The use of the same agents 
to kill the scales adhering to the fruit before marketing, as ordered 
by the quarantine rules of the Chief Executive Horticultural Officer, 
has also removed the smut from the fruit and greatly increased its 
market value. In this connection it may also be remarked that the 
freedom from smut which is enjoyed in certain regions back from the 
coast, may be attributable to the freedom of the trees from scale 
insects, rather than to some climatic condition unfavorable to the 
growth of the fungus. At any rate, it is thoroughly demonstrated 
that means which have been found effectual in destroying scale 
insects cause the smut also to disappear. I shall attempt now to pre- 
sent the facts ascertained b} 7 Professor Farlow concerning the growth 
of this fungus. In order that the subject may be more intelligible, 
I introduce a copy of Professor Farlow's engraving, for which I am 
indebted to the publishers of the Pacific Rural Press. Professor Far- 
low says, speaking of specimens of smut he obtained from olive 
leaves: 

The black substance, when seen with a magnifying power of four hundred diameters, is found 
to be composed of the stellate hairs of the olive, over which grows the fungus, to the dark color 
of whose mycelium the spots owe their color. The mycelium is very variable in appearance. 
As a rule it is composed of moniliform hyphse, whose cells are .006 mm. by .008 mm., and in 
some places almost spherical. 

These bodies called hyphse are seen at Fig. Id, where they grow so 
closely as to form a sort of membrane, which extends parallel to the 
surface of the leaf and forms the chief part of the black substance 



93 

which may be scraped or washed from the leaves. Besides these 
multitudinous oval or spherical bodies seen with the microscope, 
there are larger forms, as shown in Fig. 1 at a a a. They are termed 




stylospores. They are flask-shaped bodies, extending above the mass 
of the mycelium by which they are surrounded. They may be easily 
seen with a good magnifying glass, as the black projecting necks are 
tolerably conspicuous. They vary much in shape, and have forks, 
branches, and swellings, as shown in the engraving, Fig. 1 c, and from 
them are liberated spores, as shown at Fig. 1 b. Other forms of the 



94 

fungus are shown in Fig. 3; a a, are bodies termed picnidia, which 
are quite numerous. They consist of a membraneous sac, of a black 
color, which contain the small bodies, which are represented as being 
discharged at a. Still another form of the fungus is shown in Fig. 3 
d d. These are one form of bodies, called conidia. The ordinary 
cells of the mycelium divide by cross partition into two parts, which 
do not grow to the same shape as the mother cell, but remain two 
by two, as shown in the figure, the hyphse becoming zigzag, and 
finally they fall off and germinate. Another form is shown at Fig. 
3 c c, where the hyphse, rising at right angles to the plane of the 
mycelium, grow more and more attenuated and branch at the tip. 
The terminal cells divide in two, fall from their attachment and 
germinate. 

Fig. 2 shows the manner in which the fungus entwines itself around 
the stellate hairs which grow upon the surface of the olive leaves. 
Prof. Farlow says: 

A microscopic examination shows why the deposit is more easily removed from the orange 
than the olive leaves. The smooth surface of the former gives no permanent attachment to 
the fungus, which, as we heretofore said, does not penetrate into the interior of the cells of the 
mother plant, while ou the other hand, the hyphse wind themselves tightly around the stalks 
of the stellate hairs of the olive, from which they cannot be removed. If the fungus should 
attack both oranges and olives, it is very evident why the latter would suffer much more than 
the former. 

Prof. Farlow suggests that this fungus needs more study. There 
are other forms than those described which may exist. Especially 
is it to be desired that careful notes of the extent and manner of 
appearance of the disease, and the climate and hygrometric condi- 
tions attending it, should be carefully recorded. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




CONTENTS. 



l'AOE. 

Officers and Members of the Board of State Viticitltural Commissioners 3] 

Officers and Members of the Board of State Horticultural Commissioners 4 

Acts of the Legislature 5j 

Quarantine Eules 

Beports of C. H. Dwinkllk, President and Commissioner for the State at Large : 

Protective Measures Needed 14] 

Fruit Interests and Work of the Board 15 i 

Woolly Aphis on Apple and Pear Trees 18 

# 

Report of W. B. West : 

The Red Spider 20 

Reports of Felix Gillet: 

Horticultural Interests 22 

Codlin Moth, No. 1 24 

Enemies of the Mulberry Trees 29 

Codlin Moth, No. 2 : 30 

Sulpho-oarbonate of Potassium 33 

Reports of Ellwood Cooper, Commissioner for the State at Large : 

Diseases of the Olive, No. 1 35 

Diseases of the Olive — Remedies, No. 2 - 38 

Report of the Secretary, John H. Wheeler: 

Minutes of the Proceedings of the Board 41 

Minutes of First Annual Horticultural Convention 52 

Report of S. F. Chapin, M. D., Commissioner for the San Francisco District: 

Scale Insects 65 

Later Notes on the Woolly Aphis 89 

Report of A. S. White, Commissioner for the Los Angeles District 90 



